New Delhi, June 1: A fire broke out on the second floor of the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) building in Delhi on Sunday night, triggering a major firefighting operation by the Delhi Fire Services.
According to initial reports, the blaze was reported at around 9:37 pm on the second floor of the building, which houses an office of the Ministry of Education. Firefighters rushed to the spot and launched an intensive operation to bring the fire under control.
Visuals from the scene showed thick smoke billowing out of the second-floor windows as firefighters used ladders and hydraulic equipment to access the affected area. Several window panes were broken to facilitate firefighting operations and ventilation.
Officials said a hydraulic crane was deployed at the site to assist rescue and firefighting efforts due to the location of the fire on the upper floor.
The fire reportedly started after office hours when most employees had already left the premises. Security personnel and a few support staff present in the building noticed smoke and immediately evacuated the area.
Authorities said no injuries or casualties have been reported so far, and no one was trapped inside the building at the time of the incident.
Fire department personnel stated that the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be determined. However, preliminary indications suggest that an electrical fault or an air-conditioning unit may have been involved. Officials cautioned that the exact cause will only be known after the fire is fully extinguished and a detailed investigation is completed.
Firefighters continued operations for more than an hour as dense smoke continued to emerge from the affected section of the building. Senior fire officials remained at the site to monitor the situation and coordinate the response.
Personnel from the Delhi Fire Services said their immediate priority was to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the building. The cause of the incident and the extent of property damage will be assessed after the completion of firefighting operations.
The School of Planning and Architecture building is a prominent educational institution in the national capital, and officials said a detailed inspection would be carried out once the site is declared safe.
Authorities have assured that a comprehensive inquiry will be conducted to establish the exact cause of the fire and identify any lapses in safety systems or infrastructure.
