A massive fire broke out at a fast food restaurant in Delhi’s INA Market in the early hours of Monday. According to ANI, parts of the roof collapsed due to the flames, and the fire spread to two adjacent shops as well.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) was informed about the incident at 3.20 AM, Station Training Officer Manoj Mehlawat told ANI. Around 7-8 fire tenders reached the spot for the firefighting operation, he added. The shop where the blaze erupted was identified as Kerala Restaurant, housed in shop number 211 near the INA Metro Station gate number 2.
Speaking about the fire, Mehlawat said several fire tenders reached the spot from Bhikaji Cama Place, Safdurjung and Chankyapuri.
The fire also gutted two adjacent Chinese fast-food joints in shops number 213 and 214. Six people who were asleep in the restaurants were injured. Among the injured was Sunil Kumar, the owner of the restaurant where the fire initially broke out. The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment.
A DFS official said two of the injured — Sunil (46) and Ashki Nepali (26) — were admitted to AIIMS while four others, Arun (18), Shiva (26), Shiv Kumar (24) and Girish (42), were taken to Safdarjung Hospital.
They have received 20 to 70% burn injuries, he said.
Mehlawat said the “cause of the fire is yet to be determined”, adding that they suspect a short circuit may be responsible.
It took about two hours to douse the fire, DFS officials told PTI.
Mehlawat said there were 15 commercial gas cylinders stored in the restaurant, which could have led to a major tragedy.