A major fire at a godown in Vasundhara Enclave, East Delhi, engulfed the area in thick smoke and chaos late Tuesday night, requiring an extended firefighting operation that lasted approximately seven hours.
According to officials from the Delhi Fire Service, the fire is believed to have started around 10:30 PM inside a commercial storage facility. Within minutes, flames spread rapidly due to the flammable materials stored in the godown, including what is believed to be plastic goods and textile materials. The blaze quickly escalated, producing dense clouds of black smoke that could be seen from up to 10 km away in several parts of East Delhi and neighbouring areas.
Over 25 fire tenders were rushed to the scene from nearby stations including Loni Road, Keshav Puram, and Seelampur. Firefighters faced significant challenges as the godown was surrounded by densely populated residential and commercial lanes, making it difficult to manoeuvre heavy equipment. Multiple water hoses were used to douse the fire, which raged through an estimated area of several thousand square feet.
By around 5:00 AM on Wednesday morning, authorities confirmed that the fire had been largely brought under control, though smouldering embers continued to produce smoke. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and a team of investigators has been deployed to examine the site.
One person, identified as a worker at the godown, was injured and admitted to a nearby hospital. His condition is reported to be stable. As a precautionary measure, a nearby government hospital was temporarily evacuated, though no patients were harmed.
Local residents described terrifying scenes as they watched the fire from their homes. Many were forced to close windows and shut doors due to the thick smoke, and several complained of breathing difficulties. Traffic on the nearby GTB Avenue and NH-24 was disrupted for several hours as emergency vehicles moved through the area.
This incident has renewed concerns about fire safety in East Delhi's industrial and semi-industrial zones, where godowns and warehouses are often located in close proximity to residential areas without adequate fire safety compliance.
