Massive Fire in Tughlaqabad Slums Destroys About 1,500 Jhuggies

New Delhi: Amid rising temperature and sweltering heat, two massive fires were reported in Delhi, engulfing over 1,500 shanties in a Tughalqabad slum area as well as destroying a shoe factory in Keshavapuram.

According to NDTV, on Monday night, a call was received at 12.50 am and 28 fire engines were rushed to the spot, a fire department official told NDTV.

The police and fire department took out all the slum occupants in time even as most were fast asleep and the fire was brought under control at around 4.00 a.m.

However, there were contradictory statements on the extent of damage to the shanties or jhuggies.

Rajendra Prasad Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South East, told ANI that "We received information about a fire at around 1 am at slums in Tughlakabad. All police staff reached here immediately. It is being said that around 1,000-1,200 shanties caught fire,"

But, Atul Garg, Chief Fire Officer, told IANS, that: "We came to know about the fire in the slums around 12.15 a.m. following which 28 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. And the fire was brought under control by 4 a.m," adding that the Tughalaqbad slums had over 500 shanties, out of which over 250 had been destroyed in the fire.

When asked if there is any casualty in the incident, he said, "No injury or casualty has been reported.

Garg also said that the cause of the fire was not known.

Keshavapuram Shoe Factory Ablaze

Meanwhile, in Kesahvapuram in North-West Delhi, a fire broke out in a shoe factory on Tuesday morning, according to an official of the Delhi Fire Service, said a PTI report.

So far, no casualty has been reported in the incident, the official said, adding that the cause behind the blaze is yet to be ascertained.

Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Service, told reporters that they got a call about the fire at 8.34 a.m after which 23 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

(with inputs from PTI)