Three fire incidents and a cylinder blast were reported in Delhi on Friday.
Over a dozen people were injured in a cylinder blast at a laundry shop in south Delhi’s Munirka. Police said some of the injured are in critical condition.
A call about the blast was received at 7.26p.m. and two fire tenders were rushed to the spot, said an official from the Delhi Fire Services.
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The cylinder blast led to a building-collapse and some people were stuck under the debris.
The police said 14 people were hurt and are receiving treatment at different hospitals. Though the injured are yet to be identified, police suspect that they are all the workers of the laundry shop.
Eyewitnesses said there was a deafening sound when the blast occurred. The windowpanes of nearby buildings and wind-shields of cars were broken due to the blast, said an eyewitness.
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The area has been cordoned off. Sources said that around five to six cylinders were kept in the shop.
Comesum cafe
In the second incident, the fire department received a call around 8.10p.m. about a fire at Comesum Café at the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. Seven fire tenders were scrambled and they doused the fire by 9.10p.m.
The guests were evacuated well in time and no one was hurt. Police said the fire started in the kitchen and spread to the dining area. The fire is suspected to have been caused due to a gas leakage.
Fire at showroom
In the third incident, a fire was reported in a building in Patparganj Industrial area.
The fire started in a vehicle showroom located on the ground floor and spread to the first floor that housed a store. A call was received around noon about the blaze and 15 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire was doused by 7p.m.
Police said no casualties were reported but motorbikes worth lakhs and the store were damaged in the blaze. It is suspected that the blaze started due to a short-circuit.
A minor fire also broke out in the overhead cables near the Sena Bhawan around 5.05 p.m. Five fire-tenders were rushed to the spot. An official said that the fire was caused due to a short-circuit and was doused within minutes.
Leaves cancelled
Due to the spike in fire incidents in the city, the fire department, which is short on manpower, has cancelled leaves of all its personnel.
At least 150 calls are being received daily by the fire department this summer season. “Normally, in summer, we receive around 130 calls a day. This time, the number has increased to 150,” said a senior officer.