6 of family injured in roof collapse
Six members of a family sustained severe injuries when the roof of their two-storey house collapsed on Sunday morning and caused a fire in the Shani Bazar area of Narela, outer north Delhi. The collapse led to a gas pipeline rupture and a fire that quickly engulfed the house, officials said.
“We received a call regarding a fire and building collapse in Shani Bazar area of Narela at 7:53 am. Two fire tenders were rushed to the spot immediately,” said Atul Garg, Chief of Delhi Fire Services.
Gas pipeline rupture causes fire
The house caught fire after the gas pipeline ruptured during the occurrence of the mishap
Family members sustained severe burn injuries, 2 critical
The roof of the DDA Janta flat gave way while the family was in the kitchen. The family members Raju (40), his wife Rajeshwari (35), their son Rahul (18), and daughters Mohini (12), Varsha (5), and Mahi (3) got trapped under the debris.
“Initially, we received a call about a possible cylinder blast,” said a police officer handling the case. “However, a detailed inspection revealed there was no cylinder explosion. The fire was caused by the rupture of the PNG gas pipeline during the collapse.”
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as neighbours rushed to help the injured family before emergency services arrived. The injured were rushed to Raja Harishchandra Hospital for treatment. Doctors said the family suffered a combination of impact injuries from the debris and burn injuries from the fire.
According to medical reports, Raju sustained 52 per cent burn injuries, while his wife and son each suffered 45 per cent burns. Their daughters also sustained burn injuries Mohini (50 percent), Varsha (6 per cent), and Mahi (8 per cent). “The father and elder daughter are in a critical condition, while the others are stable and undergoing treatment,” a doctor from the hospital said.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse and whether structural deficiencies in the building played a role in the mishap. “Further investigation is underway to determine if any negligence led to the tragedy,” the police officer added.