Delhi Building Fire Claims Three Lives in Tughlaqabad Extension; Several Residents Rescued

A devastating fire that broke out in a multi-storey residential building in Delhi’s Tughlaqabad Extension during the early hours of Friday claimed the lives of three people and left several others injured.

Emergency response teams successfully rescued six occupants from the smoke-filled structure and shifted them to a nearby hospital with the help of the Centralized Accident and Trauma Services (CATS), officials said.

The incident occurred in Gali No. 1 near Naya Tara Apartment on Madhyam Marg, an area that falls under the jurisdiction of Okhla Fire Station-I.

The building, located in a densely populated neighbourhood, quickly became the focus of a large-scale rescue and firefighting operation.

According to Delhi Fire Services (DFS) Assistant Divisional Officer Yashwant Singh Meena, the structure comprised a ground floor and five additional storeys.

He noted that the narrow lane leading to the building posed a significant challenge for firefighters and rescue personnel, slowing access to the site during the critical early stages of the operation.

Fire officials said they received multiple emergency calls between 2:35 am and 2:37 am reporting a blaze inside the building and informing authorities that several residents were trapped.

Responding swiftly, the fire department dispatched three water tenders, two water bowsers, a breathing apparatus support unit and a Quick Response Vehicle to the location.

As fresh distress calls continued to pour in, an additional fire tender and light fire unit were deployed to strengthen the rescue efforts.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire may have originated from vehicles parked within the premises.

Upon arrival, firefighters immediately launched rescue operations after learning that numerous occupants were unable to escape the building on their own.

By 3:45 am, officials reported that the flames had been brought under control.

The Delhi Fire Services later issued a stop message at around 4:00 am, confirming that firefighting operations had concluded, although search and rescue activities continued for some time thereafter.

The tragedy comes only days after another major fire incident in South Delhi, where a blaze at a bed-and-breakfast establishment claimed the lives of 23 people, raising fresh concerns about fire safety and emergency preparedness in residential and commercial properties across the capital.

Meanwhile, fire-related incidents continued to be reported across the Delhi-NCR region.

In Noida’s Sector-49, a separate blaze erupted in a residential housing society on Thursday, prompting a rescue operation in which an elderly couple was safely evacuated from their smoke-filled apartment by fire service personnel.

Earlier the same day, another fire broke out at a paying guest (PG) accommodation operating from the Kedar Building in Delhi.

Most of the occupants were students, and authorities confirmed that all residents were evacuated safely without any reported casualties.

The series of fire incidents has once again highlighted the importance of strict adherence to fire safety norms, regular inspections and emergency preparedness measures in residential complexes and commercial establishments across the National Capital Region.