A minor fire broke out on the terrace of North Block in New Delhi during internal dismantling work on Monday morning and was quickly brought under control by fire crews, with no casualties reported.
The Delhi Fire Services received a call about the incident at 11.10am and sent six fire tenders to the government building, according to an official cited by the Times of India. The fire was extinguished shortly after the crews reached the site.
“Some internal dismantling work was under way when the fire broke out,” the official said. The report did not specify the material that caught fire, the area affected on the terrace or whether any equipment was damaged.
North Block is a major government complex in central New Delhi and houses offices of several Union government departments. The incident took place while work was being carried out inside the building, making the handling of dismantling activity a direct part of the fire response, although the supplied report does not identify the contractor or agency conducting the work.
The fire services response involved six tenders, but no injuries or deaths were reported. The report also did not mention any evacuation, disruption to government operations or damage to adjoining sections of the complex.
The incident follows a separate minor fire at North Block on April 16, 2024. That fire was reported in room number 209, which houses the international cooperation division of the Department of Personnel and Training. A short circuit in electrical equipment was suspected at the time, and no injuries were reported.
The two incidents were separated by more than two years and occurred in different parts of the complex. The supplied report does not establish whether they were connected or whether any common safety issue was identified. It also does not state whether an inquiry into Monday’s fire has been ordered or whether further restrictions have been placed on the dismantling work.
The latest incident was brought under control after the fire services’ response, with no casualties reported. Further details on the cause, damage assessment and any official follow-up were not available in the supplied account.
