Shaheen Bagh Blaze: Big blow to foodie hub; fire engines struggle to reach site due to illegal parking
Three popular restaurants and several flats were gutted in a blaze in Shaheen Bagh on Saturday at 5:44 pm, according to eyewitnesses. A small clip of the massive fire emanating from one building spread in the locality like wildfire.
The fire was doused with no major casualties, but properties were gutted.
A fire that started from a wire pole quickly spread to nearby buildings and restaurants, said a resident. Although the restaurants were fully equipped with fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment, the blaze still engulfed the area, said a member of Zahra restaurant.
Officials of the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) said no casualties were reported in the accident that took place on 40 Feet Road, which houses several eateries.
Police said the fire seemed to have sparked from electric wires outside the eatery.
Fire engines faced delays in arriving at the site due to the narrow lanes, which allowed the blaze to spread rapidly. It took 18 fire tenders to control the blaze after one-and-a-half hours. Local residents were also seen using fire extinguishers to douse the blaze.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, and a case is being registered, said the police.
A resident said they immediately informed the local police after one of the restaurants caught fire.
One local shopkeeper said had the fire been controlled in time, this massive loss could have been averted.
