New Delhi: Delhi Police said 22 people were brought out safely in a rescue operation after a Kia showroom fire near Saket Metro station in South Delhi on Friday afternoon. No deaths were reported.
The South District police team took charge as soon as information about the fire was received, and carried out the rescue together with other agencies and local residents, Delhi Police said on Saturday.
According to a statement from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South District) on Friday, information about the fire at the showroom, which falls under the Mehrauli police station area, was received at about 3:45 pm on November 6. Around 12 to 15 people were rescued from the top of the building and four more from the back of the showroom, the statement said.
Two women suffered minor injuries due to smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital, where their condition was reported to be stable, according to the police statement. Five fire tenders and six ambulances were deployed along with the full staff of the Mehrauli police station, and the fire was brought under control. Six vehicles were affected by the fire, police said.
South Delhi District Magistrate Lakshay Singhal said a call about a massive fire at the showroom opposite Saket Metro station was received at around 3:44 pm. The fire department, police, traffic police, CISF and ambulance services were alerted immediately, he said.
Singhal said the Chief Minister had issued instructions for an urgent rescue operation and for all necessary steps to save lives. He said 12 to 15 people were rescued and that around seven people who were injured were being treated at Max Hospital and Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital. The building was being searched again and the Chief Minister was personally monitoring the situation, he said.
The figures given by officials differ. The police statement on Friday mentioned two women with minor injuries, while the district magistrate spoke of around seven people injured. Delhi Police’s update on Saturday put the number of people rescued at 22. Officials did not state the cause of the fire in these statements.
