A sudden fire broke out in a building in West Delhi's Raghubir Nagar around 4:42 am on Monday morning. According to initial information, the fire started after an e-rickshaw battery exploded. Two people were badly burnt in the incident. They were taken to hospital, where doctors declared both dead.
The incident took place in the R-17A area of Masjid Gurudwara Road. As news of the early-morning fire spread, panic gripped residents nearby. On receiving information, fire tenders rushed to the spot and began firefighting operations.
Initial investigation revealed that an e-rickshaw battery was kept on the first floor of the building. During this, a loud explosion occurred in the battery, and the goods kept nearby caught fire.
The fire spread rapidly, engulfing household items on the first floor. Police suspect that a fault may have developed in the battery while it was charging, though the exact cause of the fire is yet to be established.
Seventeen-year-old Sufaid and 38-year-old Mohammad Samid suffered severe burns in the incident. Both were rushed to Guru Gobind Singh Hospital before the fire brigade team arrived. Doctors at the hospital declared both dead. It has been reported that Sufaid was the son of the building owner, while Mohammad Samid was his relative.
On receiving information about the fire, four fire department vehicles reached the spot. The team swiftly began firefighting operations to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the building.
Fire personnel brought the blaze under control by around 5:25 am. The building was then thoroughly checked to ensure the fire did not reignite anywhere inside.
The building where the fire broke out has four floors in addition to the ground floor. The fire was mainly confined to items kept on the first floor.
Police and the fire department are currently investigating the incident. Efforts are underway to determine what caused the explosion in the e-rickshaw battery. Initially, the battery is being considered the cause of the fire.