Fire kills couple, 2 minor kids in Delhi

A couple and their children – aged seven and three – were killed after a fire engulfed their residence early on Friday morning, in Kohat Enclave area near Rohini. All four were found near the main staircase, suggesting that they died of suffocation while attempting to escape. The deceased have been identified as 40-year-old Rakesh Nagpal, 37-year-old Tina, Himanshu (8) and Shreya (3).

The tragedy unfolded around 2.45 am, when all the occupants of the building were asleep. A family on the third floor was woken up by dense smoke. They rushed down the stairs and alerted all the other neighbours.

"We received a call at 2.50 am, and at least three fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was contained within an hour-and-half," said Atul Garg, chief fire officer of the Delhi Fire Services. "We found the family inside the house on the first floor. Three others were rescued and were shifted to a hospital."

But the residents say the fire brigade responded too late. "The first fire tender only came around 4 am," said Raman, a resident of the first floor. "It couldn't build enough pressure and had to return."

"The fire spread and charred all the vehicles parked in the vicinity, which may have fuelled the blaze," Garg added. Bablu, the building's security guard, said, "I was woken up by a small explosion, and saw a spark in an electricity meter on the ground floor."