Fire in built environment

A large fire broke out in the slum clusters near Rithala Metro Station in northwest Delhi’s Rohini area on the morning of March 5, destroying more than 50 shanties and displacing dozens of residents. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received the report at around 4:15 AM and quickly dispatched 15 fire tenders to control the blaze.
The fire was eventually contained after intense firefighting efforts, with no immediate reports of casualties or injuries. The affected area is a densely populated jhuggi, referred to as Bengali Basti, situated between the metro station and the Delhi Jal Board premises.
DFS officials indicated that the cause of the fire is under investigation. This incident marks the second significant fire in the Rithala slums within four months, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in Delhi’s informal settlements.
In November of the previous year, a massive fire in the same vicinity resulted in one fatality. DFS stated that firefighting and cooling operations were conducted to bring the current fire under control. One body was recovered from the site, and an injured child was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital.
Delhi Fire Service officer SK Dua confirmed to ANI that 29 fire tenders were involved in managing the incident. “Fire tenders were sent to the spot, and the fire was declared to be of Medium category considering its intensity,” Dua said. After several hours of dousing efforts, the fire was brought under control.