Day after fire at Delhi Police malkhana, FIR lodged

In a statement on Thursday, Southern Range DCP (Traffic) Kushal Pal had claimed that 100 vehicles were consumed by the blaze.

A worker at the malkhana, on the condition of anonymity, however, had said that the number was around 400. “Around 400 vehicles were on fire. It took three hours to bring the blaze under control,” he had said.

However, the Delhi Fire Services, in a statement on Friday, said only 50 vehicles were affected. An officer involved in the investigation, meanwhile, pegged the number at 20 to 30. “What we have found, as of now, is that 20 30 vehicles were completely burnt,” he said.

As soon as the fire erupted, thick plumes of smoke spread across the yard, visible from a distance.

The blaze was so intense that it rapidly engulfed several vehicles. A call about the fire was received at 2.02 pm and six fire tenders were rushed to the spot. “The fire first engulfed one vehicle and then spread to the several adjoining vehicles,” a police officer said.

“Multiple two-wheelers and four-wheelers were burnt in the fire. Some of them were vehicles seized during accidents,” said a traffic police officer.