A catastrophic fire swept through a large slum cluster near Shri Niketan Apartments in Delhi’s Rohini Sector 17 on Sunday, killing two young children and devastating hundreds of makeshift homes. The intense blaze left behind scenes of destruction and chaos, with authorities still trying to assess the full scale of the tragedy.
The fire, which reportedly originated from one of the jhuggis, quickly spread across the tightly packed settlement. Fire officials suspect that the presence of LPG cylinders inside the homes may have contributed to the rapid spread and multiple explosions. The exact cause, however, remains under investigation.
According to Delhi Fire Services (DFS), a distress call was received at 11:55 am. Thick smoke was seen rising from the settlement, and fire engines were immediately dispatched. Due to the narrow lanes, access was difficult, forcing firefighters to deploy more units to reach the heart of the blaze.
Identities of the Victims Remains Unknown
By around 3:20 pm, the fire had been largely contained, and cooling operations had begun. Despite these efforts, the bodies of two children believed to be between 3 and 4 years old were recovered by 2:05 p.m. Their identities remain unknown, and a search continues for others who may still be missing.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer MK Chattopadhyay confirmed that the incident was declared a “medium category” fire due to its scale. He stated that up to 26 fire units were sent to the location as the flames engulfed approximately 800–1,000 jhuggis. “Two children with burn injuries were also taken to the hospital,” he added.
Multiple fire and police teams remain on the scene, combing through the debris and assisting displaced residents. Dramatic visuals from the location showed charred trees, scorched belongings, and thick black smoke billowing into the sky as emergency teams worked tirelessly to prevent further damage.
Separate Incident Took Place of Fire
In a separate incident reported on the same day, a fire broke out in a green belt between Laxmi Nagar and ITO. DFS officials said a patch of trees caught fire near the Shakarpur police station area. Three fire engines were sent to the spot and successfully brought the flames under control. No injuries were reported in this case.
Meanwhile, Delhi continues to experience soaring temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a high of 42.1°C on Saturday marking the hottest April day in the capital in the last three years. The weather department also predicts rising temperatures in the coming days, which could worsen fire risks.
Senior police officials stated that more than 400 slum homes were destroyed in the Rohini incident. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Amit Goel confirmed that rescue and cooling operations were underway and more updates would follow as the situation unfolds.
This tragic fire highlights the vulnerability of informal settlements during extreme weather, and officials have called for greater safety checks and quicker response systems to avoid similar incidents in the future.
