In a tragic incident late Monday night, a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) engineer, his wife, and their 10-year-old daughter lost their lives after a fire broke out in their apartment. The incident occurred on the fifth floor of Metro Apartments, located opposite the Majlis Park Metro Station in the Adarsh Nagar area of Outer Delhi.
Incident Details And Response
According to the North-West District Police, the Adarsh Nagar Police Station received a distress call regarding the fire at approximately 2:39 am on Monday night. Police teams and fire brigade units were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Using the society's in-house firefighting system, the blaze was brought under control shortly after the teams arrived. However, during the subsequent search of the flat, rescuers recovered the burnt bodies of three victims from the master bedroom. The main door of the flat was found locked from the inside.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as:
- 45-year-old Ajay Vimal, an Assistant Section Engineer with the DMRC.
- 38-year-old Neelam, his wife.
- 10-year-old Janhvi, their daughter.
Police noted that Neelam was identified based on the remnants of clothing found on her body. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Investigation And Cause Of Fire
A crime team and a forensic squad were called to the location to gather evidence. Preliminary investigations suggest the following:
Heater Explosion: The fire likely started due to an explosion in a room heater, causing the flames to spread rapidly.
Cause of Death: Police speculate that the family may have been asleep when the incident occurred. It is possible they lost consciousness due to smoke inhalation and a lack of oxygen before the explosion or the fire fully engulfed the room.
Witness Accounts
Residents of the society reported rushing out of their flats after hearing a massive explosion. Witnesses observed thick smoke billowing from the fifth-floor apartment and immediately alerted the fire brigade. The intensity of the explosion was such that it was heard by a truck driver positioned 200 meters away from the building.
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Family Background
The victim's sister, Usha, stated that the family originally hailed from Ujjain. Ajay Vimal had moved to Delhi 15 years ago for his work with the Delhi Metro. He is survived by two brothers and three sisters; his elder brother serves as an inspector in the Uttar Pradesh Police.
Usha mentioned that she last spoke to her brother on New Year's Day. Family members had visited Ajay’s home just last Sunday, noting that everyone was happy and doing well. The DMRC informed the family of the tragedy at 8:00 am this morning.
Police have informed the relatives, and a thorough investigation into the incident is currently underway.