Delhi: Fire At Transport Department Office, No Casualty Reported

A fire broke out in the office of the Delhi Transport Department near the Civil Lines metro station located on the Yellow Line on Monday, an official said. According to a Delhi Fire Services official, they received a call about the fire at 8.38 am, following which eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The cause of the blaze in not known yet and officials are assessing the amount of damage caused by it. After swift action, the firemen managed to douse the blaze quickly.

Earlier, a firefighter was killed and 14 others were injured when a battery factory collapsed in northwest Delhi's Peeragarhi following an explosion due to a fire that broke out early on January 2. As many as 18 people were rescued from the building, including two caretakers and a security guard.

Delhi: Fire breaks out at Delhi Transport Department office at Civil Lines, 8 fire tenders rushed to the spot. https://t.co/Nu9b3fl0J2 pic.twitter.com/n8bzNaP8pQ

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2020

The deceased firefighter was identified as Amit Balyan (20), who was admitted to Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute. He was posted at Kirti Nagar fire station and had joined the Delhi Fire Services recently.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to condole his death. "It is with deep sadness I inform you that one of our firemen was martyred while saving people from fire. Our firemen save other people's lives by putting their lives under extremely risk in difficult circumstances. May his soul rest in peace," he tweeted.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal also condoled the death of the firefighter. "Deeply anguished over news of death of fire operator Amit Balyan Amit along with his team members fought bravely to save lives of many people. I salute his bravery My sincere condolences to his family members. All possible assistance to be extended to the injured & bereaved family," he tweeted.

According to officials, 14 people including thirteen firefighters were injured in the blaze. They suffered severe injuries after the battery factory collapsed during the explosion after the fire. A security guard of the factory was also injured, a police officer told reporters. A large portion of the two-storey building in Udyog Nagar area collapsed following an explosion when firefighters were dousing the blaze, an official said, adding that fire department had received a call at 4.23 am. According to fire department officials, the fire has been brought under control but the cooling process is still underway. All the firemen, who were trapped under the debris, have been rescued.