New Delhi, July 5: Two men died in a fire that broke out at Vishal Mega Mart in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh area, police said on Saturday.
One of the deceased has been identified as Kumar Dhirender Pratap, 25, who was found dead inside a lift. Police suspect he died due to suffocation after being trapped during the fire.
Another charred male body was recovered from the building later during cooling operations. The identity of the second deceased is yet to be confirmed. Police said efforts are underway to ascertain his identity.
“We are checking CCTV footage from inside and around the building to identify the person and to examine whether there was any suspicious activity before the fire,” a senior police officer said.
According to the fire department and police, the fire was reported at 6:44 pm on Friday from the second floor of the four-storey commercial building located on Padam Singh Road.
Police and eyewitnesses said that at least 50 people were present inside the premises when the fire broke out. A security guard noticed the smoke and raised an alarm, asking everyone to evacuate immediately.
“There was panic. The guard kept shouting ‘bhaago bhaago, aag lag gayi hai’ (run, there’s a fire). People rushed out using the staircase, and some managed to exit through the emergency door,” said Abhishek, 32, who was present during the incident.
However, Dhirender took the lift and got trapped inside. His last moments were recorded in desperate text messages sent to his elder brother. At 6:51 pm, he first wrote, “Bhaiya (brother)… Hum lift mein hoon. Gas (sic) gaye hain. Karol Bagh Mega Mart.”
His final message read, “Ab saans phool raha. Kuchh karo” (I am short of breath now. Do something). There were no messages sent after that.
Officials from the fire department said that the fire mainly affected the second floor, where a significant amount of flammable stock was stored.
“The fire quickly spread due to large quantities of fabric and packaging materials. Smoke filled the premises, which made rescue efforts more difficult,” a fire officer said.
Thirteen fire tenders and around 90 firefighters were deployed to control the blaze. The operation continued for several hours. Cooling operations were still ongoing on Saturday morning.
Officials said inadequate ventilation inside the structure made the firefighting effort more challenging and prolonged the smoke buildup inside.
Though the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, preliminary investigation points to a suspected short circuit as the possible trigger.
A team from the Delhi Fire Services and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) visited the site to collect evidence.
“The preliminary inspection shows burn marks near one of the electric panels. However, we are waiting for a detailed report to confirm the source,” said another senior police officer involved in the investigation.
A case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to negligence, has been registered, he added. Police are also examining whether safety protocols—such as functional fire exits, extinguishers, and alarms—were in place at the time of the incident.
According to sources, authorities are likely to question the mall management and building owner regarding fire safety compliance. A preliminary inquiry has suggested that mandatory fire safety clearance may not have been updated.
Several shopkeepers from nearby markets and local residents gathered outside the building as news of the fire and casualties spread.
“This is shocking. The area is congested, and the fire department faced trouble even bringing their tenders close. If more people had been stuck inside, this could have been worse,” said a local trader.
Meanwhile, the family of Dhirender Pratap was inconsolable. Originally from Uttar Pradesh, he worked at the retail store and was staying in Delhi with relatives. His brother, who received the panic-stricken messages, reached the spot soon after but was unable to get any help in time.
A senior police officer confirmed that CCTV footage from inside the mall, nearby shops, and traffic intersections is being scanned—not only to trace the movements of people who were inside—but also to determine if any criminal negligence or foul play was involved. Further investigation is in progress. (PTI)
