Gurugram fire destroys 240 shantytowns

A large fire that started on Friday in the Sector 53 slums near Banjara Market destroyed at least 240 shantytowns.

Fire caused by gas leak while cooking

West Bengali native Rajjak informed us that there had been a gas leak while cooking. The fire was exacerbated by a tiny cylinder that ruptured. Five hours and more than nine fire tenders were needed to put out the fire. The event resulted in the gutting of around 240 shanties. A senior firefighter

The fire quickly spread over the region and produced a cloud of smoke that could be seen in the sky as more than 150 small and large gas cylinders broke. Later on, it was discovered that the fire was started by a gas leak while cooking.

The shanties were reduced to ashes by the time more than nine fire engines were called into action and more than five hours passed before the fire was contained. While removing their goods from the shanties, a few occupants suffered minor burns, but no one was seriously hurt in the fire.

More than a thousand people lost everything they had, including cash, jewelry, and vital papers, leaving them without a place to live. It is said that the civil defense unit, local police, and a few private NGOs are assisting these slum inhabitants with their rehabilitation.

A fire official reports that this morning, at around 10.40 am, a fire started in a shanty while its occupants were cooking. The fire quickly spread throughout the shanties, so the locals called the fire department right away.

More than 150 large and tiny cylinders took fire, and one explosion after another occurred in the slum.

Three fire tenders and a group of firemen from the Sector 29 fire station arrived at the location within a few minutes. Fire engines from the fire stations in Bhim Nagar, Sector 37, Udyog Vihar, and DLF also arrived here shortly after.

About 100 fire personnel and almost nine fire tenders were called into action. Five hours later, they were able to put out the fire, but by then, people’s belongings and possessions had already been completely destroyed.

Most people living in the slums, according to the police, were from West Bengal. The majority of these women work as domestic helpers, whereas many of these men do diverse jobs, including security guards and laborers.

The people of Jhuggi were yelling for aid when I saw the fire, and someone urged me to call the fire department. An explosion in small gas cylinders caused the fire to quickly spread to every shanty, according to West Bengali resident Ayub.

Anisha Bano, a different resident, said, “I saw flames coming from a Jhuggi when I was outside my Jhuggi.” Since the majority of the families were not at home when the tragedy occurred, the majority of their possessions were destroyed by fire. But since I discovered the fire before it reached our shanties, I was able to salvage some of my belongings and household goods.

According to a local, slums are being built throughout the city on public or private property in order to raise rent. Slums often ask for rent of Rs 1,500 and more. In addition, the contractors who rent out shantytowns frequently steal power.