As the fire spread inside one of the flats in the Pacific Society, 83-year-old Jasuri Devi and her 30-year-old granddaughter, Pooja Pant, rushed to the balcony to escape, as the blazing fire blocked their path to the apartment’s entrance door
An unfortunate fire incident occured in a housing society located in Dwarka, where a 80 year old lady lost her life while attempting to escape a fire along with her granddaughter on Wednesday. The incident has sparked concerns regarding the lack of adherence to fire safety regulations within the city.
According to officials, the fire in the Dwarka housing society is believed to have been triggered by a gas leak or a short-circuit in an air-conditioner. Atul Garg, the Director of Delhi Fire Services, revealed that the fire control system installed at the Pacific Society in Sector 10, Dwarka, was not operational. Consequently, firefighters had to rely on their own equipment and tankers to extinguish the flames.
Garg further disclosed that the building’s fire safety certificate had expired long ago, and the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) had failed to renew it. As the fire spread inside one of the flats in the Pacific Society, 83-year-old Jasuri Devi and her 30-year-old granddaughter, Pooja Pant, rushed to the balcony to escape, as the blazing fire blocked their path to the apartment’s entrance door.
Tragically, both jumped from the balcony in an attempt to evade the flames, while neighbors gathered below, attempting to rescue them by holding bedsheets and mattresses. However, Jasuri Devi suffered severe head injuries upon impact, resulting in her unfortunate demise. Pooja Pant sustained severe injuries and is currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at AIIMS.
Expressing concern over the lack of fire safety measures in the area, a resident from a neighboring society named Dr. Asha emphasised the need for regular fire safety inspections in residential societies to prevent such tragic incidents. She indicated that local residents plan to address this issue with their respective RWAs, advocating for weekly fire safety classes to enhance preparedness.
Contrary to Dr. Asha’s statements, a member of the Pacific Society’s RWA claimed that they do conduct fire safety drills periodically. However, they were unable to rescue the victims in this particular instance as the door to their apartment was locked from the inside.