400 ‘jhuggis’ gutted in Delhi — News flash

A major fire broke out in Mangolpuri area in Delhi early on Monday and around 400 jhuggis (slum dwellings) were razed to the ground. According to the report, around 400 “jhuggis” (slum dwelling) were gutted in the fire. The fire also destroyed an overhead high-tension electricity line, leading to power disruption in the locality, IANS reported. Over 25 fire engines reached the Mangolpuri area to curb the flames.

The cause of the incident has not yet been established.

The fire was brought under control later in the morning. The first thing we saw were flames inside our house. “We only have the clothes left on our body now”. Preliminary investigations indicate a short-circuit as the reason for the fire.

In April 2014, a similar huge fire destroyed almost 500 thatched huts in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj slums. No casualties or injury have been reported yet. The fire department managed to evacuate all the people from the area before the fire could lead to casualties.