A devastating fire broke out in a shelter home in South-west Delhi's Vasant Vihar area in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the deaths of two men. The incident occurred at a facility run by the SPYM NGO located in Coolie Camp.
Timeline of the Tragic Incident
The emergency call was received by police around 3:15 am on Monday, December 2, 2025. Upon receiving the PCR call, a police team rushed to the location and found the shelter home completely engulfed in flames. Fire brigade personnel arrived at the scene shortly after the police and managed to bring the intense blaze under control.
Rescue Operations and Fatalities
At the time of the fire, seven individuals were residing in the shelter home. Five of the residents were successfully rescued from the burning structure and did not sustain major injuries. However, the rescue efforts could not save two men.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Arjun (19), who was originally from Nangla Purva in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district and worked as a sweeper in a hotel.
- Vikas (42), whose permanent address is currently unknown and is yet to be ascertained by the authorities.
Police Investigation and Legal Action
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown and is a key focus of the ongoing investigation. The Vasant Vihar police station has registered a formal case under sections 287 and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Officers are conducting a thorough probe to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly blaze.
This tragic event has highlighted the safety concerns in shelter facilities across the national capital. The community and authorities are awaiting the investigation's findings to understand what sparked the fire and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
