Fire Erupts at Karol Bagh’s Vishal Mega Mart; 1 Person Suspected Missing

Initial Report

A fire broke out on the second floor of a shopping complex in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area on Friday evening, prompting a massive response from emergency services. The incident occurred at the Vishal Mega Mart outlet on Padam Singh Road, which houses a variety of grocery and fabric items.

The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received the call at 6:44 PM and immediately deployed 13 fire tenders to the scene. No injuries have been officially reported yet, but police suspect that one person may be missing.

UPDATED

As of late Friday night, firefighting and rescue operations were still underway. Delhi Police, DFS, and disaster response teams are jointly conducting a floor-by-floor search inside the four-storey building.

"The fire was mainly confined to the second floor, where cloth and packaged goods were stored. The rest of the building is being checked thoroughly," said a DFS official.

The entire area around the complex has been cordoned off. Investigators say the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and a forensic examination may follow.

According to initial police reports, the fire erupted in a densely stocked section of the complex. Shoppers and staff were quickly evacuated. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to determine the origin and spread of the fire.

What Officials Said

"This is a Vishal Mega Mart outlet where grocery and fabric items are sold. The fire was confined mainly to the second floor," Delhi Police said in a statement.

A DFS spokesperson added, "Search teams are currently combing the site for any possible trapped persons. No casualties have been confirmed, but we're not ruling out the possibility."

AIIMS Fire Reported Day Before

Just a day earlier, on Thursday, a separate fire incident was reported in a transformer near the Trauma Centre at AIIMS Delhi. That blaze, reported at 3:34 PM, was brought under control by DFS teams using eight fire tenders within 30 minutes. No injuries occurred in that case.