Tughlakabad Fire Accident: Eyewitnesses Recount The Harrowing Incident That Killed 3 In Delhi

A devastating fire in South Delhi's Tughlakabad area left three people dead and multiple others injured on Friday. The blaze broke out in a six-story residential building located in a narrow lane near Naya Tara Apartment on Madhyam Marg, severely hindering initial emergency response efforts.

Recounting the moments of the harrowing moments of a late-night fire incident in the national capital, a local resident described how the neighbourhood united to rescue trapped individuals using sarees and cutting through safety grills.

Speaking to ANI, she said, "We live right across the street. when we realized a fire had broken out here, we rushed over immediately; the entire neighborhood had come together to help. When we arrived, we saw vehicles exploding on the ground floor. there were 7 bikes and a scooter, and they were all blowing up.

We managed to extinguish the flames using water. We also rescued people from the rear, using sarees to help them climb down and cutting through safety grilles at the back to get the girls out. In total, 8 people were injured, and one person died... One person who lived on the fourth floor has died; his name was Pankaj... This happened exactly at 2:00 AM, and a call was made at 2:10 AM..."

Another eyewitness told IANS, "...The fire broke out at around 2:10 am. We came to know about it at around 2:20 am, by which time it had spread significantly... I used my daughter's phone to call the fire brigade. As I came downstairs while making the call, I saw that the fire had intensified... After that, the fire brigade arrived and took control of the situation..."

#WATCH | Delhi: A local resident recounts the harrowing moments of a late-night fire incident in the national capital, describing how the neighborhood united to rescue trapped individuals using sarees and cutting through safety grills.

She says, "We live right across the street.… https://t.co/RrjR9QTS7o pic.twitter.com/obk0mpdNlD

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2026

According to Delhi Fire Service (DFS) officials, the department received a flurry of frantic distress calls between 2:35 am and 2:37 am reporting that residents were trapped inside the burning structure. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire originated among vehicles parked on the ground floor before rapidly spreading upward through the five upper floors.

Delhi: An eyewitness says, "...The fire broke out at around 2:10 am. We came to know about it at around 2:20 am, by which time it had spread significantly... I used my daughters phone to call the fire brigade. As I came downstairs while making the call, I saw that the fire had… pic.twitter.com/4I82OB5rbr

— IANS (@ians_india) June 12, 2026

The DFS deployed a specialized fleet to the scene, including four water tenders, two water bowsers, a breathing support unit, and a Quick Response Vehicle. Led by Assistant Divisional Officer Yashwant Singh Meena alongside station officers Mukul Bhardwaj, Samarth Lal, and Raj Kumar, first responders faced grueling conditions navigating the cramped alleyways to reach the building.

Firefighters managed to bring the raging flames under control by 3:45 am, officially wrapping up firefighting operations fifteen minutes later. However, the rescue mission continued well into the morning. Crews successfully pulled six trapped occupants from the building, including a final survivor discovered during the cooling-down phase.

The rescued individuals were rushed to a nearby hospital via Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulances. Additionally, emergency workers evacuated at least eight other injured residents earlier in the operation, transferring them to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for urgent treatment.