Ghaziabad Fire Tragedy: FIR Filed After 3 Deaths, 25 Injured in Khoda Colony Blaze
In a devastating incident that has exposed glaring safety failures, an FIR was registered on Monday following a massive fire in a residential building in Ghaziabad's Khoda Colony last week. The blaze claimed the lives of three members of a family and left 25 others injured, with initial investigations pointing to serious safety and approval lapses.
Police Take Suo Motu Action Against Unknown Persons
Indirapuram ACP Abhishek Srivastava confirmed that authorities took suo motu cognisance of the fire that erupted late on March 3 night at Sunahri Residency, a five-storey apartment block located in New Ajanta Park Colony. The FIR was registered at Khoda police station against unknown persons under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The charges include:
- Section 106: Negligence
- Section 324(4): Mischief causing damage between Rs 20,000 and Rs 1 lakh
- Section 287: Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
Tragic Loss of Three Family Members
The fire proved fatal for three members of the same family. Rajendra Kumar (54) and his wife Meena Devi (52), who were rescued from the building's second floor on the night of the fire, succumbed to their injuries on the same day. Their daughter Neetu (24) fought for her life but ultimately succumbed on Saturday at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, where she had been undergoing treatment since March 3.
Residents Trapped in Inferno
Police reports indicate that residents attempted to escape but found themselves trapped as the parking area on the ground floor and the stairwell were completely engulfed in flames. Those on the first floor faced desperate circumstances, with some jumping from balconies or using ropes and sheets to climb down when fire consumed their flats.
According to preliminary investigations, the fire originated in an electricity panel on the ground floor. The blaze charred more than 50 two-wheelers parked in the area before spreading to the staircase and lift shaft, filling the entire building with thick, toxic smoke. More than 20 fire tenders responded to the emergency, successfully evacuating approximately 150 residents from the dangerous situation.
Building Lacked Mandatory Safety Clearances
Fire officials revealed alarming safety deficiencies at the building. Chief Fire Officer Rahul Pal confirmed that the structure did not possess a mandatory fire no-objection certificate. Police investigations further uncovered that the building had only a single entry and exit point, severely compromising evacuation capabilities during emergencies.
The building, constructed in 2019 by Noida-based private builder Vivek Rathi, housed 43 families in two- and three-room flats. In response to the tragedy, the fire department has written to the Khoda Makhanpur Nagar Palika Parishad seeking detailed information about the building's approved layout and construction permissions.
Systemic Failure in Building Approvals
Shailendra Singh, Executive Officer of the parishad, told media that the building had no formal approval from the civic body. He acknowledged that most structures in the area lack sanctioned layouts, revealing a systemic failure in construction regulation.
According to Singh, the municipal board has not yet implemented formal building bylaws under the Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1916. This regulatory vacuum has left large parts of Khoda with unregulated construction. "There is no house tax being levied, and the Nagar Palika has not issued completion certificates for any building," Singh explained.
"Under the Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1916, building layouts must be approved by the Khoda Nagar Palika. However, since the Palika board has not yet passed the bylaws, most buildings operate without sanctioned layouts. We have sent a proposal to the Uttar Pradesh government seeking approval to implement these bylaws and are awaiting a green signal," he added.
Investigation Expands to Builder and Authorities
Police authorities have announced that notices will be issued to builder Vivek Rathi, seeking documents related to the building's layout, construction permissions, and clearances from relevant departments. Investigators will thoroughly verify these documents before determining responsibility and taking appropriate legal action.
This tragic incident has highlighted critical gaps in building safety regulations and approval processes in Ghaziabad's rapidly developing areas. The combination of inadequate fire safety measures, lack of proper exits, and systemic regulatory failures created conditions for this preventable tragedy that has left a community grieving and demanding accountability.
