A major incident occurred on Saturday evening at the Vishal Mega Mart in Karol Bagh, Delhi, due to a massive fire. The fire spread so rapidly that the entire building was filled with smoke, causing chaos. In the incident, a 25-year-old man named Dhirendra Pratap Singh, who was trapped in an elevator, died of suffocation. Dhirendra was preparing for the UPSC examination and was studying in Karol Bagh. After this tragic incident, the family has leveled serious allegations of negligence against the Mega Mart management and the police.
Devastation Caused by the Fire
The fire brigade received information about the fire at around 6:44 PM, after which several fire engines arrived at the scene. The fire spread so rapidly that flames engulfed the basement, ground floor, first, second, third floors, and temporary setups above. M.K. Chattopadhyay, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, stated that it took more than two hours to extinguish the fire. He said that the building's stairwells and alternative routes were completely filled with goods from the departmental store, making it extremely difficult for firefighters to access the interior. The fire team had to break through the building's wall to carry out rescue operations.
The situation was most critical on the third floor, where oil and ghee were stored. This caused the fire to intensify further. The team somehow managed to control the fire in the basement, ground, first, and second floors, but during this time, the electricity went out, and the elevator got stuck. Dhirendra Pratap Singh was trapped in this elevator, and he was taken out after several hours, but by then, he had already died.
Serious Allegations Against Staff and Police
Rajat Singh, the deceased's brother, said that Dhirendra called at 6:54 PM, shortly after the fire broke out. He frantically reported that he was trapped in the elevator and that there was thick smoke all around. Rajat immediately called Vishal Mega Mart, but he claims that all the staff members had switched off the power and fled. He called the police, but the police said that no one was trapped inside.
Rajat stated that his brother's body was finally recovered from the elevator around 2:30 AM after the fire was brought under control. He alleged that if rescue operations had been carried out correctly in time, Dhirendra's life could have been saved. The deceased was a promising student and was preparing for the UPSC examination. The family has demanded strict action regarding the negligence of the police and the Mega Mart administration. On Saturday morning at 10 AM, the police called the family to file an FIR.
Death Due to Negligence, Investigation Ongoing
This incident has once again raised the question of whether large commercial stores comply with safety standards or not. Initial investigations revealed that the building did not have many necessary safety arrangements, and the escape routes were blocked by store goods. The police and fire department investigations are ongoing.
The untimely death of Dhirendra has not only shaken a family but has also raised questions about the entire system. The fire has been brought under control, but the way this incident happened reveals a bitter reality of Delhi's security arrangements.
