The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has sharply condemned the Delhi government and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in response to the District Magistrate’s report concerning the Palam fire that occurred on March 18, which resulted in the deaths of nine people. Saurabh Bharadwaj, President of AAP’s Delhi unit, stated that lives could have been saved if proper fire-fighting equipment had been operational during the incident.

Bharadwaj expressed his views on social media platform X, stating, “The reality of the Rekha Gupta government has been revealed in the Palam fire case. We have maintained that if the fire brigade equipment, specifically the sky lift, had functioned correctly, nine lives could have been spared. The ministers and the BJP government have consistently misled the public to conceal the failures of the Fire Department.”

He further detailed that critical equipment failed during the emergency response. According to Bharadwaj, the Bronto sky lift was non-operational, and the manual ladder was insufficiently tall to reach those trapped on the balcony. Bharadwaj recounted the tragic circumstances where three young girls, aged six, nine, and twelve, lost their lives while desperately calling for help from the flames.

Findings of the Magisterial Inquiry Report

The Magisterial Inquiry report, which has now been submitted to the Home Department, confirmed that nine individuals, including seven women, perished in the fire, while three others sustained injuries. As noted in the official statement, the inquiry identified significant lapses on the part of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Fire Services (DFS).

Among the critical issues highlighted were regulatory failures, the presence of unauthorised overhead cables, and multiple violations of fire safety regulations. The preliminary investigation suggests that an electrical short circuit near the MCB box was likely the cause of the blaze; however, the definitive cause remains undetermined pending forensic analysis.

Additionally, the report emphasised that a substantial quantity of flammable cosmetic products stored in the building exacerbated the fire’s intensity. Concerns were raised regarding the technical abilities of the Assistant Electrical Inspector, who reportedly lacked adequate training to prevent such incidents.

Government Response and Future Measures

The inquiry also noted that the malfunction of the skylift crane during the rescue operations, coupled with the presence of overhead cables, hindered rescue attempts. There were no effective alternative high-rise rescue tools available on-site, which hampered timely assistance for those trapped inside the building.

The Delhi government has stated that it will implement measures in response to the inquiry’s findings. Officials have committed to strengthening the Delhi Fire Services through the recruitment of additional personnel and the upgrading of firefighting equipment.

This situation has prompted serious discussions concerning regulatory practices and adherence to fire safety norms, with the government pledging to take action aimed at preventing future tragedies of this nature. The responses from the government are anticipated to focus on better preparedness and improved protocols for emergency situations.

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