Minor among 2 killed in house fire at Shahdara, four injured

Two people lost their lives in a fire that broke out in a residential building in Shahdara early Friday morning. The fire, reported at 5.25 am, quickly engulfed the third and fourth floors of the four-storey building in Bhola Nath Nagar.

Local residents said the blaze started around 5.05 am, causing chaos and panic. Eyewitnesses described the scene as alarming, with flames spreading rapidly. A resident recalled, “I was standing in my balcony, performing prayers when I noticed the fire. It sounded like fireworks. I assumed it was a short circuit and immediately called the fire brigade.”

However, fire trucks were reportedly delayed due to vehicles parked in the area, blocking access. This allowed the fire to spread further, according to Fire Department officials.

It took approximately an hour and a half for fire tenders to arrive. Firefighters were able to control the blaze within two hours, but by then, the fire had already caused significant damage and claimed two lives.

The victims were identified as Shilpi Gupta (42) and her 16-year-old son Pranav Gupta. Their bodies were recovered from their apartment, with preliminary investigations suggesting they died from suffocation.

A family member, Manoj Kumar Shetty, said, “I had stopped the lift and the gas pipeline, but it was too late for them.” While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, initial reports suggest an electrical malfunction may have triggered the incident.

Two minor siblings rescued during the operation were discharged from the hospital after treatment. Additionally, four other family members — Kailash Gupta (72), Bhagwati Gupta (70), their son Manish Gupta (45), and Manish’s son Parth (19) — are currently receiving medical care.