Eight Rescued, Two Pets Perish in New Friends Colony House Fire

A residential blaze in South Delhi sparked a high-stakes rescue operation Sunday afternoon, with officials confirming that while all human occupants were saved, two pets succumbed to smoke inhalation.

A frantic rescue effort unfolded on Sunday in the affluent New Friends Colony area of Delhi after a fire broke out in a three-story residential building, trapping several occupants. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received an emergency call at approximately 3:38 p.m., reporting that thick, toxic smoke had rapidly engulfed the premises. Firefighters, working in tandem with local police, deployed ladders to reach the upper floors, successfully ensuring that eight people—comprising four children and four adults—were brought to safety.

According to Station Officer Phool Singh Meena, the blaze originated on the upper ground floor of the building located near Mathura Road. Preliminary investigations suggest the incident was triggered by a malfunction in a split air-conditioning unit. The unit reportedly caught fire and collapsed onto a bed, allowing the flames to spread quickly to other household items. While some initial reports circulating on social media and certain outlets erroneously claimed a child had died in the incident, both police and fire officials have categorically denied these claims, confirming that no human lives were lost.

Despite the successful evacuation of the residents, the outcome for the family's pets was tragic. Two dogs were trapped inside the smoke-filled building and, despite the best efforts of emergency responders who attempted to administer CPR and first aid at the scene, both animals could not be revived. One was declared dead on the site, while the second succumbed to its injuries after being rushed to a nearby veterinary hospital for treatment.

Heightened Fire Safety Scrutiny

The incident in New Friends Colony comes during a period of intense public anxiety regarding fire safety standards in the capital. The blaze occurred just days after a devastating fire at a bed and breakfast in the congested Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar, which resulted in 21 fatalities, including 13 foreign nationals. In the wake of that tragedy, authorities have been conducting rigorous site visits and investigations into building safety violations.

On the same Sunday that the New Friends Colony fire broke out, police were seen at the Malviya Nagar site with a suspect, a cook who had been arrested in connection with the earlier disaster, as part of an effort to reconstruct the sequence of events. The recurring nature of these residential fires has prompted Delhi Chief Minister to convene high-level meetings to address the escalating concerns over illegal constructions and inadequate fire safety infrastructure across the city.

The rescue operation in New Friends Colony was officially concluded by late afternoon, with the fire brought under control within half an hour of the initial alarm. Four to five fire tenders were pressed into service, and officials confirmed that the site is now secure. Residents who were rescued were reported to be in stable condition and, following a brief evaluation, declined further medical hospitalization.