The Hindu : Front Page : Big fire causes big alarm in Capital

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Sunday, Sep 11, 2005

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Big fire causes big alarm in Capital

Devesh K. Pandey

MORNING ALARM: Flames and smoke leaping out of the ninth floor of Himalaya House in New Delhi on Saturday. PHOTO: ANU PUSHKARNA

NEW DELHI: A major fire broke out on the ninth floor of Himalaya House on Kasturba Gandhi Marg here on Saturday morning spreading panic in the crowded Connaught Place area. While the building was immediately evacuated, an old man had to be taken to hospital after he fell ill due to asphyxiation.

Shortly before 10 a.m. some occupants of the building noticed smoke coming out from the Planet Metal Industries' office on the ninth floor and alerted the building security guards, who in turn informed the Fire Department. It being a Saturday, most offices in the building were closed and those on duty vacated the premises as soon as they learnt about the fire. Among them was the old man who fell ill due to asphyxiation while coming down the stairs. He was rushed to hospital for first-aid.

According to Chief Fire Officer R.C. Sharma, 25 fire tenders were pressed into service and the fire was brought under control within 45 minutes. "It remained confined to the office only. However, some portions of the 10th floor were also affected," he said.

Orange flames leaping out of the windows and the thick smoke billowing out from the office created much panic in the area. Passers-by crowded outside the building to witness the fire-fighting operation.

The firemen used a hydraulic platform to reach the ninth floor office to attack the blaze. As a precautionary measure, the adjacent Jeevan Prakash building was also evacuated.

According to Mr. Sharma, Himalaya House had had a clearance from the Fire Department and had all the necessary fire-fighting gadgets, which were used during the operation. Nevertheless, an inquiry has been initiated into the matter.

Initial investigations indicated that the fire was caused by an electric short circuit. Old-timers recalled that a major fire had broken out in the same building about a decade ago after which it was sealed for some time.

A few months ago the Fire Department had disconnected water and power connections of nearly 360 buildings across the Capital that had failed to comply with the fire safety norms. Among the violators were 14 government buildings, including those of the Delhi police, and insurance companies.

In all, 760 buildings located in areas like Asaf Ali Road, Karol Bagh, Khirki Extension, Sadar Bazar and Munirka have been kept on the watch-list.

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