Forty fire tenders, along with 200 fire fighters, rushed to the spot after receiving a call around 8.30am. It took them more than two hours to extinguish the blaze. Cooling operations continued till afternoon.
According to locals and police, the fire started around 8am and spread rapidly through the slum-which has around 1200 shanties-within minutes as the shanties were made of plywood and other inflammable materials. "The main cause for the fire to spread was the wind and an abundance of inflammable material in the area," said A K Sharma, director of Delhi Fire Service.
Residents said they heard loud explosions as the fire spread with cooking gas cylinders in other shanties exploding. "I initially thought the noise was of some crackers but then soon saw a thick smoke going up and raised an alarm. Then I saw people running here and there and spotted flames consuming our dwellings," said Ahmad, a resident who was on his way to his shanty from a nearby shop.
Fire officers said they had to undertake a cautious approach since most shanties had cylinders which could explode. Eventually, around 30 did explode. The officers also had a tough time getting into the narrow lanes and had to fetch water from a nearby mall.
Meanwhile, there was virtual stampede as people ran helter-skelter, trying to salvage their possessions and getting injuries and burns in the process. "I was out for work at the nearby Kaveri Apartment when I heard people running and calling for help. I rushed out only to find the whole place burning and people falling over each other," recalled resident Amol Dutt.
By 8.50am, a large team led by police and fire officers had arrived but the locals blocked their path. "All our houses had been gutted by then, we didn't need their help," said Maulana Sanaullah, a local religious leader alleging that the fire tenders came almost after half an hour. "Cylinders were exploding like bombs for at least 15 minutes and there was thick black smoke. We did not know where to go," said Sanaullah, who stays at a mosque inside the cluster.
Locals claimed that some children who were playing outside their house were missing since the fire. However, police said they might have run away after getting traumatized and that no casualties had been reported. The fire was brought under control around 11am.
Lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, along with chief secretary S K Srivastava, special commissioner (law and order) Deepak Mishra, divisional commissioner Dharampal and other senior officials reached the spot around 11am and reviewed the rescue operations.
Jung ordered that a medical team and a disaster management team be present at the spot to take care of injured persons and arrangements for food and relief be made. He also promised compensation. "I have seen the whole situation and assessed the damage and have asked district authorities to ensure these people get their basic minimum requirements," said Jung.
By 12pm, teams from DDMA, NGOs, personnel from a local hospital and political parties had reached the spot. A team was also called in to prepare and distribute food and tents. Water tankers and toilet facilities were provided by DJBDelhi Jal Board. Health officials present at the spot said they had provided first aid to about 35 to 40 people who had come with minor burn injuries and cuts. Police said that most of the residents had been provided with food and shelter and a roster was being prepared by the civic authorities to ascertain their compensation amounts.
A case under section 436 of IPC (mischief by fire or explosive substance) has been registered against unknown persons and a probe is on to determine the cause of fire and if there was any sabotage. The two likely causes being probed are a short circuit or a cylinder blast. Temporary tents have been arranged for people to stay at night. "Those who worked as maids at nearby houses have gone to stay at their employer's house. We are making other arrangements so that they don't face any problem at night," said an official.
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