Fire guts 400 shanties in Delhi's Mangolpuri area

Around 28 fire tenders were rushed to the spot; no casualties reported so far

Around 400 shanties were gutted in Delhi's Mangolpuri area after a major fire broke out in the early hours of Monday, officials said.

"Around 28 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames. No casualties have been reported so far. Reason of the fire could not be known," a fire department official told IANS.

"Belongings of the people living in the slums were destroyed in the fire," the official said.

The firemen had to toil hard to douse the high leaping flames.

The fire also destroyed an overhead high-tension electricity line, leading to power disruption in the locality, a police officer told IANS.

"Power disruption created problems in dousing the fire. The fire broke out at 2 a.m but could be extinguished only at 7 a.m," the officer said.

"The fire broke out early in the morning and our kids woke us up. From food to clothes, all our belongings have been burnt," a resident of the area told reporters.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed grief over the incident and directed the officials to carry out relief works.

"Sad to learn about fire in jhuggis. Have directed officials to provide immediate relief," he tweeted.

The chief minister also urged the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers to reach the spot and help the victims.

"I will also reach there after cabinet meeting. I urge AAP volunteers to go and help victims," Kejriwal tweeted.