In an early-morning fire in Pitampura, two scrap dealers died, and three were injured when the tin-shed shelters and inflammable material caught fire near a police post.
Detailed Explanation
Two scrap dealers were killed and three others seriously injured in a major fire at Pitampura village in outer Delhi on Tuesday morning, police and fire officials said.
What happened?
The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received a call about a major fire near a residential society adjacent to Vikas Niketan Society at around 1:25 am, they said. The fire broke out in a warren of temporary tin-shed shelters on an open plot where scrap dealers were living and storing materials for recycling.
The shelters were littered with flammable materials, such as cardboard, carton boxes, and scrap material, leading to a quick spread of the fire.
Victims Identified
The deceased were identified as
- Biresh Kumar (28)
- Satish Kumar (35)
The victims were from the Nalanda district in Bihar and were working as scrap dealers in Delhi.
Biresh’s brother and two others were among the injured. They escaped but sustained burns and were being treated.
Cause of the Fire
The initial probe indicates that the scrap dealers had started an open fire to warm themselves on a cold winter night. At some point after, they fell asleep and were not able to control the spread of the flames to easily ignitable materials nearby.
The two men who died may have been too slow to flee—perhaps due to intoxication, police said, and are investigating.
Rescue Attempts and Firefighting Efforts
One of the injured survivors, Dinesh, told the police that he had attempted to save those trapped but was forced to retreat as flames flared.
To control the blaze:
- 9 fire tenders
- Around 45 firefighters were deployed.
The blaze consumed nearly 1,000 square feet of the building and scorched several parked vehicles in the area.
“We have been informed that a 14-kg gas cylinder exploded at the spot soon after the fire started, and several smaller cylinders there caught fire too, (only) adding to the woes,” said a senior DFS official.
Delay and Land Dispute Angle
Officials said the emergency services had been notified too late and that such delayed notices could have contributed to the scale of the disaster. Investigators have also reportedly discovered that the plot’s owner, who does not live at the location, is locked in a battle over the land with residents of the shack. It’s one of the details being investigated; it is under investigation.
Legal Action
A case has been registered at the Rani Bagh police station under
106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), i.e., negligence leading to death.
Separate Fire Incident in Narela
Later in the day, a fire was reported at a three-story plastic manufacturing factory in Narela Industrial Area around 7:15 am.
- 20 fire tenders were deployed
- Control was achieved with the fire setting at 10:50 am
- There were no reports of injuries or deaths.
Conclusion
This tragic event underscores the very real danger posed to informal workers when living in structures made from flammable material. Officials emphasize the need to promote fire safety awareness, report emergencies in a timely way, and obtain a better living environment so that similar tragedies can be avoided.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Two Scrap Dealers Killed, Three Injured
In which area was the Pitampura fire incident?
The incident took place at Pitampura village in outer Delhi, close to Vikas Niketan Society.
What caused the fire?
The fire is thought to have originated from an open flame set for warmth, and then it caught nearby combustible scrap materials.
How many people were affected?
Two were killed, and three were injured.
