Representative image | (Photo: PTI)
Quick action by police averted a major tragedy in central Delhi, with 44 workers rescued minutes before a fire broke out in a four-storey building in Nabi Karim furniture market early Saturday morning, officials said.
A report of the fire was received at 3:20 a.m. Smoke was also reported coming from the ground floor of the building, which is used for furniture storage, a police officer said.
The workers were sleeping in the building. There appeared to be an entrance to the upper floors, but the hatch was closed.
“The local police took swift action by breaking the shutter, opening the gate and going to the second and third floors where the labourers were sleeping,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) M. Harsha Vardhan.
About 44 workers were rescued before the fire spread to the entire building and firefighters arrived, he said.
An official of Delhi Fire Service (DFS) said at least seven fire tenders were pressed into service. It took four hours to bring the fire under control, he said.
According to the officer, no one was injured in the incident, but furniture and other wooden objects were destroyed by the fire.
According to him, the fire was caused by a short circuit. Further investigation is ongoing.
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First publication: Sep 21, 2024 | 11:59 PM IST