Chaotic Scene After Office Fire in Ghaziabad: People Fearfully Evacuated Amidst Panic
Commercial structure in Ghaziabad engulfed in flames, leads to evacuation of approximately 60 people.
A distressing situation unfolded in Raj Nagar District Centre, Ghaziabad, as a fire broke out in a commercial building on Monday afternoon. The fire department promptly sent 10 fire tenders to battle the blaze, having received a call around 3:15 PM.
The seven-story commercial building housed over fifty individuals, trapped inside their offices due to the blaze. Many expressed sheer panic, with some even contemplating jumping out of the windows in desperation.
"Upon arrival, we discovered numerous people attempting to flee through their office windows on various floors. The building's interior was filled with thick smoke, preventing access to the stairs and other exits. Our team entered the structure, successfully evacuating approximately 50-60 people to the ground floor," stated Rahul Pal, the Chief Fire Officer.
The fire started in an electrical shaft between the sixth and seventh floors. Three out of the ten fire tenders were utilized to suppress the flames, which were successfully controlled in about 15-20 minutes.
One of the survivors, Pramod Panchal, shared his experience, "I was working in an adjacent office when I received a call regarding smoke in the building. People were trapped on various floors, but the fire department and police immediately aided in the evacuation."
Piyush Tyagi, another evacuated individual, added, "One of our colleagues informed us about the fire and its swift spread. Safety measures were in place, but it appears they weren't working effectively."
The CFO revealed that the building lacked a functional fire-fighting system, with a court case filed against this issue in 2023. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported during the rescue operation.
Historically, the fire department has received numerous calls related to fires in commercial buildings in Ghaziabad. The records from 2021 to 2023 show a steady increase in fire-related calls, with 931, 1,103, and 1,068 calls made each year, respectively. The number climbed even further in 2024, as 1,607 calls were made, with a significant portion, around 47.85%, received during the summer months of April, May, and June.
These incidents indicate that fire safety measures may have lapsed or been inadequate in certain buildings, as even commercial establishments should have functioning fire-fighting systems to prevent such chaotic situations.
- Subsequent to the fire incident in Raj Nagar District Centre, Ghaziabad, a call was made to evacuate a commercial building in Nagar, revealing the lack of a functional fire-fighting system.
- A court case was filed against the building's inadequate fire safety measures in the year 2023, as the fire department had to deploy 10 tenders to combat the blaze on Monday afternoon.
- Amidst the chaotic scene, Pramod Panchal, a survivor of the fire, praised the swift response of the fire department and police, as many individuals were trapped within the smoke-filled building due to the fire.
- Despite the increase in fire-related calls in Ghaziabad from 2021 to 2024, with a record 1,607 calls made in 2024 alone, no casualties or injuries were reported during the evacuation of the building in question, according to the General-News.
- Piyush Tyagi, another evacuated individual, underscored the importance of functioning fire-fighting systems in commercial buildings, given the spike in fire incidents in the area and the near-disaster situation that unfolded in the building on Monday.
