At least 13 people were injured in two separate fire incidents in the Capital on Saturday, the police said, adding that no deaths were reported.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said the police received a call at 4.40 a.m. that shops at Azad Market had caught fire which led to the collapse of the main building. The building housed small shops that sold paint, tarpaulin, and bags, said the police.
Minor injuries
A cylinder blast in an adjoining shop, which had a welding machine, was later reported in which five people suffered minor injuries. They are currently safe, said the DCP.
Rajinder Atwal, Divisional Fire Officer, said the fire spread across three buildings. The situation was brought under control with the help of 20 fire tenders, he said.
The DCP said that legal action is being initiated even as disaster management teams, along with an earthmover had been deployed to remove the debris from the collapsed building.
Almost an hour later, in another fire incident, an explosion took place at an industrial unit located in Prasad Nagar near Anand Parbat. “We received a fire call at 5.30 a.m. from Anand Parbat’s industrial area,” said DCP (Central) Shweta Chauhan.
The unit, engaged in manufacturing electric appliances, is a three-storeyed building and is owned by Hukum Chand. When the police reached the spot, they heard a blast as soon as they opened the main gate.
AC unit
Glasses of windows up to third floor got shattered in the incident, said Ms. Chauhan said. The police are ascertaining whether the explosion took place in the air conditioning unit. Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot and were able to bring the blaze under control only by 8.30 a.m.
Six firefighters, one police constable from Anand Parbat and a security guard who sustained injuries were rushed to B.L. Kapur and Jeewan Mela Hospitals.
“No death has been reported. We are ascertaining whether LPG cylinders triggered the blast,” said Delhi Fire Service director Atul Garg. Ms. Chauhan said a crime team had been called and efforts were being made to ascertain the cause of the fire.
