Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 26: A devastating fire broke out at a five-storey commercial building near Rithala Metro Station in Rohini Sector 5 on Tuesday evening, claiming the lives of four individuals and leaving three others injured, officials from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) and police confirmed on Wednesday.

The building housed multiple manufacturing units, and the fire, which erupted around 7:30 pm, quickly escalated due to the presence of combustible materials. Responding swiftly, 16 fire tenders were rushed to the scene. However, the intense smoke and unsafe structural design of the building severely hampered rescue operations.

“Three charred bodies were discovered on the first floor at around 1:15 am,” said a police officer, adding that a fourth body was recovered shortly thereafter. A search operation remains underway to ensure no one else is trapped inside the debris.

Among the injured are Nitin Bansal (31) and Rakesh (30), both of whom suffered 80% burn injuries, and Virender (25), who sustained minor burns. The trio was initially rushed to BSA Hospital, but Nitin and Rakesh were later shifted to RML Hospital for more intensive care.

Atul Garg, Chief of DFS, stated that the fire was brought under control on the lower floors by 6:00 am Wednesday, though smoke continued to emanate from the upper levels. The cooling operation is currently in progress.

Authorities are now investigating the cause of the fire, with preliminary concerns raised over the building’s safety compliance and emergency preparedness. The tragedy has once again spotlighted the growing risks in unauthorized industrial structures operating in densely populated city zones.