Three Killed, Two Critical as Fire Tears Through Delhi Residential Building

A fire in a five-storey residential building in southeast Delhi’s Govindpuri area claimed three lives and left two others critically injured in the early hours of Friday, as residents scrambled to escape through windows using sarees and makeshift ropes amid thick smoke and flames.

The blaze broke out around 2:30 am in Tughlakabad Extension , rapidly spreading through the building and filling narrow lanes with dense smoke, trapping several occupants inside. Panic gripped the neighbourhood as residents shouted for help from rooftops while others attempted desperate escapes.

Eyewitnesses said parked two-wheelers and flammable materials inside the building helped the fire spread quickly. “We saw smoke around 2 am. Within minutes, the entire building was engulfed,” said a local resident, adding that visibility dropped sharply as smoke spread.

Many residents escaped barefoot, while neighbours formed human chains and assisted evacuation efforts before emergency teams arrived. In one instance, a stranded resident was rescued after being lowered using a saree tied from an upper floor.

Police said a PCR call was received at 2:30 am , following which a coordinated rescue operation was launched. Eight occupants were rescued and shifted to Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment.

The deceased were identified as Pankaj (28), his mother Guddi (50), and sister Soni (20) , all residents of the third floor. Two other family members Moni (18) and their 70-year-old maternal grandmother remain in critical condition.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit on the ground floor , though officials have not ruled out other possibilities.

Residents said the smoke also spread to nearby buildings, forcing evacuations in adjoining areas. Local officials and political representatives visited the site, with authorities acknowledging the role of community members in rescue efforts.

The incident comes days after a deadly fire in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, intensifying concerns over urban fire safety, building compliance, and emergency preparedness in densely populated residential areas. Police continue to investigate the cause of the blaze.