Tragic scenes were witnessed in outer Delhi's Mundka where a massive fire engulfed a building, killing at least 27 people, and forcing many to jump off the windows or use ropes to slide down to safety.
As many as 27 people died and 12 got injured as a massive blaze broke out at the four-storey commercial building in Mundka, police said.
The fire started from the first floor and spread to the other floors, they said.
In videos that emerged on the social media, people could be heard crying for help while others were seen jumping from the building in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.
There were videos where people could be seen using ropes to escape the building from where thick black smoke was coming out. Locals were also seen providing them help in reaching to safety.
Some survivors also used a narrow space in the building to climb down.
The police said some people were injured while trying to escape and were shifted to the hospital.
In order to rescue those who were trapped, the fire department deployed cranes while police officials broke the windows of the building to help the people.
Following a six-hour long firefighting operation, the blaze was brought under control. Police, fire department and NDRF teams were involved in the rescue work. The fire department is currently carrying out cooling operations.
Mundka is close to the Delhi-Haryana border. In the night, traffic snarls started in the area with the entry of trucks.
The police, however, did not specify other details like the gender or age of the deceased.
Delhi Chief Fire Service Officer Atul Garg said no firefighter was injured in the operation.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announces compensation, orders inquiry
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the fire incident.
Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia visited the site of the blaze to take stock of the situation.
"A magisterial enquiry has been ordered into the incident. The families of the deceased will be given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh, while the injured will be given Rs 50,000," the chief minister said.
He said it was a massive blaze and the bodies were charred to such an extent that it has become difficult to identify them.
"The Delhi government has deployed help to identify the missing and the deceased," Kejriwal added.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had visited the site on Friday night.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal says he is deeply pained by loss of lives in Mundka fire incident
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has said that he was "deeply pained" by the loss of lives in the Mundka fire tragedy and called for immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of such an incident in future.
He also extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
"Deeply pained by the tragic fire incident in Mundka, Delhi. Despite best rescue efforts many precious lives were lost. My deepest Condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured," Baijal tweeted.
"Even as we go into the details of causes behind the tragedy, immediate steps should be taken by all concerned to ensure that such incidents do not recur," he said.
At least 27 people were killed and 12 injured after a massive fire ripped through a four-storey building in Mundka on Friday.
The fire started from the first floor of the building that housed the office of a CCTV camera and router manufacturing and assembling company, police said.
It is suspected that an explosion in an AC may have triggered the fire, according to fire officials.
Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin expresses grief over the fire mishap in Delhi
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday expressed grief over the fatal Delhi fire accident that killed 27 people.
"Extremely pained by the tragic loss of so many lives in Delhi Fire accident. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of victims and wishing the injured a speedy recovery," Stalin said in a tweet.
The massive fire at a four-storey building in the national capital on Friday left at least 27 dead and many missing, with the blaze suspected to have been caused by an explosion in an AC.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath condoles loss of lives in Delhi's Mundka building fire
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has condoled the loss of lives in a fire that ripped through a four-storey building in outer Delhi's Mundka and said the incident was "heartbreaking".
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati also expressed grief over the "unfortunate" incident and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
At least 27 people were killed and 12 injured after the fire broke out in the building near Mundka metro station on Friday. The fire started on the first floor of the building that housed the office of a CCTV cameras and router manufacturing and assembling company, police said.
It is suspected that an explosion in an AC may have triggered the fire, according to fire officials.
"The loss of lives in an unfortunate and horrific fire incident in Delhi yesterday is extremely sad and heartbreaking. My condolences are with the bereaved family members. I pray that may Lord Shri Ram grant peace to the souls of the departed and help the injured make a speedy recovery," Adityanath said in a tweet in Hindi.
SP president Akhilesh Yadav said a thorough probe should be conducted into the incident.
"Tributes to those killed in Delhi's Mundka fire. (I extend my) deepest condolences to the bereaved families and appeal to the government to give them compensation. Ignoring the safety standards and fire norms in building construction leads to such accidents. There should be a thorough investigation in this matter," he tweeted in Hindi.
BSP chief Mayawati termed the loss of lives in the fire "sad and unfortunate".
"About 27 people died and 12 others were injured in a massive fire that broke out in a four-storey building in Mundka, Delhi last evening. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. The government should ensure that the culprits get strict punishment by conducting a high-level inquiry into the matter," she tweeted in Hindi.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the Mundka building fire incident.
He also said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident.
The death toll is likely to go up as charred human remains were found on the second floor of the Mundka building earlier on Saturday, according to fire officials.
(With PTI inputs)
