A devastating fire tore through a government-run homeless shelter in southwest Delhi's Vasant Vihar in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the tragic deaths of two men. The incident has cast a harsh light on the living conditions and safety measures at facilities meant for the most vulnerable.
Timeline of a Tragedy
The alarm was raised at 3:15 am when police were alerted about the blaze at the Coolie Camp shelter. A swift response saw four fire tenders and 24 firefighters rushed to the scene. Despite their efforts, it took nearly two hours to bring the inferno under control by approximately 5 am.
The facility, operated by the NGO Society for the Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM) for the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, housed several inmates at the time. Out of seven people present, five were rescued safely. The two victims, identified as Arjun (19) and Vikas (42), were rushed to a hospital but declared dead.
Victims and Violations
Arjun, a resident of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, worked as a sweeper at a local hotel. The address and occupation of Vikas are yet to be ascertained. In the wake of the incident, the police have registered a case under Sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to fire) and 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
A member of the managing NGO revealed a discrepancy in occupancy, stating that 15 to 19 people typically live in the shelter at any given time, a number higher than the seven reported during the fire. The member also claimed recent fire safety measures, saying, "We refilled a fire extinguisher recently and gave everyone training on how to use it." However, he highlighted a critical structural issue: "The space here is extremely cramped, with a lot of encroachment around."
Chaos and Combustible Conditions
Preliminary findings suggest the fire originated in the kitchen and rapidly spread towards the shelter's entry gate, where the two deceased were sleeping. Sources indicated that several combustible materials like blankets and mattresses fueled the flames, causing them to spread uncontrollably. "The heat was so intense that locks on doors and lockers melted," the sources added.
Viral videos from the scene depict the sheer horror of the event. One video shows the entire shelter engulfed in flames, with chaotic scenes and a woman heard frantically urging people to use water. Another captures desperate attempts by individuals to salvage their belongings from the burning structure.
Despite the caretakers' attempts to rush in and rescue inmates immediately after the fire broke out, Arjun and Vikas found themselves trapped. The Delhi government's response to this tragic incident is currently awaited, as questions about safety protocols and shelter conditions demand answers.
