New Delhi: Two elderly women were killed in a fire on Sunday that broke out at an Old Age nursing home in south Delhi's Greater Kailash area, officials said. Authorities got the information about a fire at Antara Care for Seniors at 5.14 am. Five fire tenders and a few ambulances were rushed to the spot, and the fire was brought under control by 6.50 am, the fire department said.
According to police, which helped in the firefighting operation, the fire had occurred on the third floor of the building. After the fire was doused, two completely burnt bodies were found on the third floor. Kanchan Arora, 86, and Kamal, 92, were burned inside the building, according to the fire department.
The crime and FSL teams have been called to the spot, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandan Chowdhary said. One senior citizen has been shifted to Max Hospital Saket and 12 others to another branch in Okhla of Antara Care, he said, adding the matter is being investigated.
Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal issued a notice to Delhi Police in connection with the death of two elderly women. Taking suo moto cognizance of the incident, the DCW said the incident was a "very serious and painful matter".
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It asked the police to provide a copy of the FIR registered and details of the persons responsible for any negligence in the matter and whether they have been arrested. It also asked police to furnish details on whether the old-age home had licenses from concerned government departments including from the Fire Department.
The DCW also sought a copy of the inquiry report conducted on the matter and a detailed action taken report on the matter. "Considering the gravity of the matter, please provide the sought information to the Commission latest by 06.01.2023," read the DCW notice to Delhi police.
This was the second fire incident in a week in south Delhi. On Thursday, just after midnight, shops in a three-storey building in Sangam Vihar area caught fire. According to police, the building had become engulfed in smoke and families living on the first and second floor had to be rescued with use of ladder. Fourteen people had been rescued in all and no casualty was reported in that incident.
