A fire broke out in labour slums near Udyog Bhawan in Delhi on Wednesday, prompting a large-scale response from emergency services.

The incident highlights the persistent vulnerability of temporary housing in the capital, where electrical malfunctions in densely packed settlements can lead to rapid fire spread.

The blaze began when an electric panel malfunctioned and ignited nearby temporary structures [1], [2]. The fire quickly spread through the jhuggis, which are located near Udyog Bhawan, and some reports indicate are behind Maulana Azad Medical College [2], [4].

The Delhi Fire Service deployed between 20 [1] and 24 [4] fire tenders to the scene to combat the flames. Firefighters surrounded the blaze by 5:10 a.m. [1] and declared the situation under control by 5:30 a.m. [1].

Despite the intensity of the fire and the density of the settlement, no injuries or casualties were reported [3]. The rapid deployment of the fire tenders prevented the flames from spreading further into the surrounding urban area.

Authorities have not yet released a formal report on the total property damage. The focus of the immediate response remained on containment and ensuring all residents had evacuated the affected temporary structures safely.

“No injuries or casualties were reported”

This incident underscores the critical safety risks associated with improvised electrical wiring in Delhi's informal settlements. Because these labour slums often lack standardized fire safety infrastructure and are composed of flammable materials, minor electrical failures frequently escalate into major fires, necessitating high-volume deployments of fire tenders to prevent widespread urban casualties.