At least ten individuals were inside the building when the fire broke out
A late‑night fire in Old Govindpura, in the Shahdara district of east Delhi, has claimed the lives of two people and left two others injured, officials have confirmed.
The blaze erupted around 8.45pm on Tuesday in a four‑storey residential building on Band Gali, where a small‑scale battery cell storage and assembly operation was reportedly being run illegally. Fire services were alerted and swiftly mobilised six tenders and 25 firefighters to combat the flames .
At least ten individuals were inside the building when the fire broke out. Fire crews and police officers rescued six occupants from the burning structure, while four others were pulled out with injuries and rushed to Dr Hedgewar Hospital. Among the deceased are Tanveer (28) and Nusrat, who were declared brought dead, while Faizal and 18‑year‑old Asif remain in hospital in stable condition .
Delhi Fire Service (DFS) described the rescue operation as “intense”, hampered by the highly combustible nature of battery cells, poor ventilation, and limited entry points, making evacuation particularly challenging . The burning continued for nearly two hours, with the fire eventually extinguished by around 11pm .
Preliminary investigations suggest an electrical fault may have triggered the blaze. Police are probing the unauthorised use of the residential premises as a commercial battery unit, amid concerns over regulatory lapses and resident safety .
This incident echoes a similar tragedy on 25 June in Rithala, when a fire in another illicit factory killed four workers. Authorities have repeatedly warned of the dangers posed by makeshift industrial operations in densely populated neighbourhoods.
