New Delhi | Enoxx News
A routine Sunday morning turned into a nightmare for the residents of Northwest Delhi’s Majlis Park when a devastating fire, followed by a massive LPG cylinder explosion, rocked a residential neighborhood. The tragic incident, which occurred during an active firefighting and rescue operation, has left at least 13 people severely injured, including frontline emergency responders who were caught directly in the line of fire.
The chaos began unfolding around 9:00 AM when thick plumes of smoke were spotted billowing from the stilt parking area of a multi-storey building. According to eyewitnesses, the ground floor area, which housed parked vehicles and stored household items, suddenly caught fire. Panic ensued as residents rushed out of their homes, with some brave locals attempting to move their parked cars away from the advancing flames to prevent further damage.
Upon receiving the distress call, emergency teams from the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) and the Adarsh Nagar Police Station immediately rushed to the site. Firefighters swiftly rolled out their hoses and initiated a coordinated operation to douse the blaze, while police personnel focused on evacuating the trapped residents and pushing the growing crowd of onlookers to a safe distance.
However, just as the emergency teams were battling the flames, a highly pressurized LPG cylinder stored on the premises suddenly exploded with a deafening roar. The blast triggered a massive fireball that rapidly engulfed the immediate surroundings, giving the first responders absolutely no time to escape.
Among the 13 critically injured individuals are three dedicated police officers from the Adarsh Nagar station—including an Assistant Sub-Inspector and a constable—along with three courageous officials from the Wazirpur Fire Station who were leading the water assault. Seven civilian residents who were assisting in the evacuation or standing nearby also sustained severe burn injuries in the sudden explosion.
In the chaotic aftermath, multiple ambulances were deployed to the scene. All 13 victims were initially rushed to the nearby Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital for immediate first aid. However, owing to the critical nature of their thermal burns, doctors promptly referred them to the specialized burn ward at Safdarjung Hospital, where they are currently undergoing intensive medical care. Authorities are closely monitoring their condition.
Following sustained efforts, the fire department successfully managed to extinguish the blaze, preventing it from spreading to adjacent residential structures. The stilt area, however, has been completely gutted, with several vehicles reduced to charred metal.
Local law enforcement has cordoned off the building to preserve the scene for forensic experts. A preliminary investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the initial fire. Authorities are currently exploring multiple angles, primarily focusing on whether an electrical short-circuit in the parking area or an undetected gas leak sparked the initial inferno that led to the catastrophic cylinder blast.
