Three Migrant Workers Die as Fire Engulfs Shanty in East Delhi
Image Source: The Hindu
New Delhi: Three migrant workers, the sole breadwinners of their families, lost their lives when a fire broke out in their shanty in East Delhi’s Anand Vihar on Tuesday. The blaze, worsened by a gas cylinder explosion, trapped them inside. Only one worker managed to escape with minor injuries. Police suspect the fire was ignited by a diesel oil lamp placed on a cooler stand for illumination.
The Delhi Fire Service received a distress call at 2:22 am. “By the time we arrived with three fire tenders, the shanty was already engulfed in flames,” said a fire official. Neighbors reported that they were alerted by the sound of a mini cylinder explosion. Firefighters managed to douse the flames by 2:50 am and retrieved three individuals from the debris.
DCP (Shahdara) Prashant Priya Gautam confirmed that the victims succumbed to severe burn injuries and asphyxiation at the hospital. They were identified as Jagge (30) and brothers Shyam Singh (40) and Kanta Prasad (37), all from Uttar Pradesh.
“Investigations revealed that four people lived in the wood-and-bamboo shack, which had a plastic sheet roof,” said Gautam. “They had placed a diesel lamp on a cooler stand for light before going to sleep around 11 pm. The entrance was secured with a padlock.”
Survivor Nitin Singh (32) recounted that Shyam Singh woke up around 2 am when he noticed the fire and struggled to unlock the door. Nitin managed to tear through the plastic sheet and escape.
The tragedy left families devastated. Rampal, the 72-year-old father of Shyam Singh and Kanta Prasad, mourned, “I lost not one but two sons. There’s no hope left for our family.” Shyam Singh, who earned around ₹15,000 a month, ensured his 21-year-old daughter could continue her education despite financial struggles. His income also supported his two younger children, aged 10 and 12.
Kanta Prasad had recently arranged his daughter’s marriage and was saving for the wedding. “Now that dream remains unfulfilled,” said Rampal in grief.
Jagge, a machine operator, had three young children—the youngest just eight months old. His brother, Rati Ram, lamented, “He barely got time to be with his youngest daughter because he was always working to provide for the family.”
Friend and colleague Satender shared his sorrow: “I learned about the fire around 4:40 am. By the time I reached, his body had already been sent to the hospital. We had dinner together most nights, and now he’s gone.”
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site and announced ₹10 lakh compensation for each bereaved family. She also assured them of government support and directed a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
A case has been registered under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (death due to negligence), and further investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause of the blaze.
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- Aryan Gulati is a dedicated media student based in Meerut with a wealth of experience in various newspapers and media houses. He has numerous published articles and specializes in political and crime news writing, demonstrating a strong commitment to impactful journalism.
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