Chaos gripped Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh and Laxmi Nagar on Saturday as devastating fires broke out in quick succession, destroying homes and damaging properties but sparing lives.
In Shakur Basti, part of Punjabi Bagh police jurisdiction, the alarm sounded at 11:15 AM. Sixteen fire engines battled raging flames that consumed hundreds of jhuggis over 90 grueling minutes. ‘The fire spread like wildfire; we barely escaped with our lives,’ recounted a survivor whose entire possessions turned to dust.
Local police and fire teams coordinated a massive response, cordoning off the area amid panic. No fatalities were reported, a small mercy amid the widespread destruction that has left families facing acute shelter and food shortages.
Punjabi Bagh DCP stated that joint operations quelled the blaze, with forensic teams now tracing the origin—possibly electrical faults common in such settlements.
Simultaneously, East Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar J Extension saw a transformer explode into flames around 12:45 PM, igniting four buildings and impacting 14 flats. Eight tenders contained the spread after upgrading the response on-site.
ADO Rajesh Kumar Shukla detailed the frantic calls that poured in, emphasizing how the fire’s rapid progression from transformer to residences necessitated reinforcements. Probe into causes continues as power authorities inspect lines.
These events expose Delhi’s fire-prone underbelly, where overcrowding and substandard wiring breed disaster. Community leaders call for urgent safety audits and relief funds, as displaced residents huddle in temporary shelters, rebuilding from scratch.
