Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 23: A devastating fire swept through a furniture market in the Shastri Park locality of Northeast Delhi late Friday night, causing widespread destruction and panic among traders and nearby residents.

Officials from the Delhi Fire Service said the emergency call was received around 11:57 PM. In response, nearly 25 fire engines were rushed to the location, and firefighting operations intensified through the early hours of Saturday.

The flames quickly engulfed multiple shops, while dense smoke covered the surrounding area. Preliminary estimates suggest property and stock worth several crores may have been destroyed as numerous furniture outlets were reduced to ashes.

The situation turned tense when some residents allegedly obstructed rescue operations and attacked fire department vehicles with stones. Fire personnel at the scene expressed frustration over the disruption, stating that the hostile crowd was making it difficult to control the blaze and demanding immediate police assistance.

Locals, however, accused authorities of reacting too slowly to the emergency. Several residents claimed the fire had been burning for hours before adequate help arrived. Some also alleged that the initial firefighting equipment was insufficient and poorly equipped to handle a blaze of such scale.

Amid the devastation, suspicions regarding the cause of the incident also surfaced. A few shop owners and residents alleged that the fire may have been intentionally triggered, hinting at possible political motives behind the incident.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police and forensic experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory have begun investigating the site to determine the exact cause of the fire. Authorities confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far, although firefighting efforts continued for several hours to fully bring the situation under control.