Fire in East Delhi building; woman dead, 25 people rescued
New Delhi (PTI): A 40-year-old woman died in a major fire at a building in East Delhi's Shakarpur on Tuesday while 25 people were rescued, officials said here.
They said the fire started in the building's parking area in the early hours of the day and soon engulfed the entire structure.
The woman, identified as Anita, died of burn injuries at a hospital, the officials said, adding that another person, Naresh Nagar, suffered a fracture in his leg after jumping off the first floor of the burning building.
A total of 25 people were rescued, along with two pets, by Delhi Fire Service (DFS) personnel, they said.
"We got a fire call at about 1.05 am... We immediately pressed three fire engines to service. Later, five more fire engines were rushed to the spot. The matter was informed to the police immediately," a DFS official said.
The fire department officials said the blaze was brought under control around 8.35 am.
They said 31 people were trapped inside the building when it was engulfed in flames. Five of them jumped off the balconies to save themselves and the rest were brought out of the building by firefighters, the officials said.
They added that 10 people were rushed to hospitals such as the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Hospital and other medical facilities and one woman died during treatment.
"During the rescue operation, Samay Singh of the DFS suffered breathing problems and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital," an official said, adding that he was later discharged after first-aid.
Identities of the victims are being ascertained, DFS officials said.
Police have registered an FIR in connection with the incident and launched an investigation.
Around 1 am on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, information was received regarding a fire in a car in Ganesh Nagar II, Shakarpur, police.
A police team reached the spot and an inquiry revealed that a fire broke out in a five-storey building having a parking lot and eight flats with single entry and exit points, they said.
Police said the fire started on the left side of the building which has the parking lot on the ground floor and four flats.
A total of 17 fire tenders reached the spot to douse the flames, they said, adding that CAT ambulances, a BSES team and a crime and forensics team were also pressed into service.
"All those injured, including a fireman, were rushed to LBS, GTB and Hedgewar Hospital. Initial inquiry revealed that a fire broke out due to a short circuit in the parking area on the ground floor. The fire started from the parking area and soon engulfed the first floor. The residents of the floors above sustained injuries due to excessive heat and smoke," DCP Amrutha Guguloth said.
Of the five men and four women who received injuries, one Anita (40) died, police said, adding that another person jumped off the first floor and fractured his leg.
Four cars, 11 two-wheelers and three bicycles parked on the ground floor were gutted, they said.
"An FIR under sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC has been registered and further investigation into the matter has been launched," Guguloth added.
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Porsche car crash case exposed systemic corruption: Pune police commissioner
Pune (PTI): The Porsche car crash case exposed "systemic corruption," but the Pune Police have successfully uncovered the nexus behind the replacement of the accused juvenile's blood samples with those of his mother, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said on Wednesday.
The case made national headlines after the high-end car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old boy in an inebriated state mowed down motorcycle-borne IT professionals Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa in the Kalyani Nagar area on May 19 last year.
"Last year’s Porsche car crash case sparked widespread discussions about Pune’s deteriorating social culture, alleged police corruption, and several other issues. Amid all the criticism, one positive aspect stood out: the case exposed systemic corruption.
"It also demonstrated how the police, working within the same system, managed to uncover the entire nexus behind the replacement of the juvenile’s blood samples with those of his mother," Kumar said while addressing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, an initiative aimed at raising awareness against drug addiction, organised at Modern College.
He added that the juvenile has been released since he was a minor.
"However, his mother has remained in jail for over a year, and his father continues to be behind bars. Doctors from Sassoon Hospital and others involved are also still in jail," Kumar said, adding that one mistake by a child, and an attempt by his parents to cover it up, destroyed an entire family.
He said the police will follow up on this case until every guilty person is punished.
Kumar also appealed to students to stay away from intoxicating substances and drugs.
"You are not only endangering your own life but also putting your entire family at risk," he said, urging the youth not to fall prey to harmful addictions.
"Instead, stand strong and act as a force to ensure that drug abuse is curbed in your surroundings. We assure you of full police support," he added.
He further stated that if youth from all colleges unite and decide to end this menace, "the day is not far when not even one gram of drug will be sold in the city".
The investigation into the car crash had revealed that the juvenile's blood samples were replaced with those of his mother.
The roles of Dr Ajay Taware, head of the forensic department, Medical Officer Shreehari Halnor, and a hospital staffer came under scrutiny.
While the mother is currently out on bail, the juvenile’s father, Sassoon Hospital doctors Taware and Halnor, staffer Atul Ghatkamble, two middlemen, Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad, and others remain in jail for the alleged blood sample swap.
