A fire at a food outlet in Model Town-II, northwest Delhi, led to the evacuation of 30 people on Thursday afternoon, with police and fire services deploying 23 firefighting units to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings.
The fire was reported at about 1.58pm, according to the report by Times of India – Delhi. Police suspect that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze, although the cause has not been established as confirmed. The outlet was located in Model Town-II, an area with adjoining buildings that were also cleared as a precaution.
A beat officer from Model Town police station was among the first responders to reach the location. After noticing smoke billowing from the premises, the officer alerted senior police officials. A police team then moved to the site and began evacuating people from the food outlet and neighbouring buildings.
Police said 30 people were safely moved away from the affected premises. The available report did not provide further details about injuries or damage to surrounding structures.
Delhi Fire Services initially sent two water tenders and two water bowser vehicles after receiving information about the incident. The fire was subsequently categorised as a medium fire, leading to the mobilisation of additional resources. Fire officials said 23 units were ultimately pressed into service, including nine water tenders and nine water bowser vehicles.
The deployment indicates the operational response required when a fire at a commercial food establishment threatens to affect nearby structures. Food outlets can contain electrical equipment, cooking systems, fuel sources and other combustible materials, making rapid evacuation and access for emergency vehicles important during a fire response. The report, however, did not identify the specific equipment or installation suspected to have failed.
The Model Town incident comes after other recent fires in Delhi. In August, five people were rescued by Delhi Fire Services and local residents after a fire broke out in an air-conditioner installed in a hotel kitchen in Rohini. In June, a fire at a bed-and-breakfast establishment in Malviya Nagar claimed 23 lives and left several others injured.
For the Model Town case, police have identified a suspected short circuit as the possible trigger, while firefighting teams were deployed to contain the blaze and protect nearby premises. Further details on the final cause, property damage and any inspection or follow-up action were not available in the supplied report.
