Delhi Restaurant Fire: Firefighters Rescue 75-Year-Old Woman Amid Gas Cylinder Blasts

A major fire broke out at a restaurant in the Kalkaji area of New Delhi early on Sunday morning, triggering explosions in three commercial LPG cylinders and prompting a large-scale emergency response. The incident occurred at the Punjabi Tadka restaurant near the Govindpuri flyover and led to a dramatic rescue operation by firefighters. Authorities said the blaze has since been brought under control, while cooling operations continue at the site.

According to officials from the Delhi Fire Service, information about the fire was received at approximately 4:45 am. Firefighters were immediately dispatched to the location after the emergency call. Initially, six fire tenders were sent to tackle the blaze, but additional resources were mobilised after the intensity of the fire became apparent. The incident was subsequently categorised as a Make-4 fire, indicating a serious emergency requiring enhanced firefighting support.

The fire spread rapidly through multiple sections of the building, affecting areas from the basement to the upper floors. Officials said the structure consisted of a basement, ground floor, and three upper floors, with a temporary structure also present on the terrace. As the flames intensified, three commercial LPG cylinders exploded, creating panic in the surrounding area and increasing the risks faced by emergency responders.

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Amid the emergency, firefighters carried out a challenging rescue operation to save a 75-year-old woman identified as Sita Devi. She was reportedly trapped on the second floor of the building as the fire spread. Delhi Fire Service personnel entered the affected structure despite the dangers posed by the flames and cylinder explosions and successfully evacuated her to safety without reported injuries.

To combat the fire, authorities deployed a total of nine firefighting units, including water tenders, a water bowser, a breathing support unit, and multipurpose emergency vehicles. Firefighters worked for several hours to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures. Their efforts eventually succeeded in bringing the fire under control and reducing the threat to the surrounding neighbourhood.

Officials have confirmed that cooling operations are currently underway to eliminate any remaining hotspots and prevent a recurrence of the fire. No fatalities have been reported in the incident so far. Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage caused to the restaurant and the building.

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