1 dead, another injured in fire at banquet hall in Delhi’s Moti Nagar

The Delhi Police said the victim, Rajesh, didn’t suffer many burn injuries, and he likely died due to asphyxiation after inhaling smoke. His body has been sent to a nearby government hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine his cause of death, they added.

An unidentified man was also reported to be trapped on the first floor of the building but managed to escape the building himself, said the police. The man reportedly suffered minor injuries and bruising.

“The fire likely started from the kitchen area and was sparked off either by a short circuit or a leaking LPG cylinder. We are probing what caused it,” said a senior police officer.

Videos from the scene showed black smoke billowing as the fire raged inside the building. Multiple agencies, such as the DFS, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the local police, conducted rescue operations through the late-night hours. Ambulances and police teams were also deployed at the site as a precautionary measure.

A massive fire burned down almost 30 stalls from different states in Dilli Haat almost two months ago. It took two hours for DFS to control the blaze, with thick plumes of smoke making visibility extremely low at the spot.

Vendors at Dilli Haat said that the fire was caused by a short circuit, claiming that the wiring was “decades old and faulty”. They also recalled at least four smaller fires that had taken place in the last two years due to short circuits.