Massive fire breaks out at Dilli Haat, 30 shops gutted; vendors lose goods worth crores

A major fire broke out at Dilli Haat, a popular open-air market in south Delhi's INA area, on Wednesday night, destroying at least 30 shops. No casualties were reported, according to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS).

DFS Chief Atul Garg stated that a fire call was received at 8:55 pm, following which 14 fire engines were dispatched to the scene. “The fire has been brought under control. Around 30 shops were completely gutted, but there were no injuries,” he said.

Initially, Delhi Police had estimated the number of affected shops at 25. The fire, which reportedly started around 8:30 PM, quickly engulfed multiple stalls, sending thick smoke and flames into the night sky.


Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra confirmed on social media that the blaze had been contained. "While several shops have been gutted, by the grace of God, there are no reports of any casualty. I am at Dilli Haat to meet those affected," he posted on X.

Shopkeepers expressed anguish over the losses, with some estimating damages worth crores. One vendor claimed goods worth at least Rs 10 crore were destroyed, while another, Shauket Ahmed, said his personal loss was around Rs 1.5 crore. “We don’t know how it started. We couldn’t save anything,” he said.

The owner of shop number 4 shared a heartbreaking account: “We set up our stall with loans. Everything we built over the years is gone.”

Several traders blamed the rapid spread of the fire on the lack of basic fire safety infrastructure. Vijai Kumar, a Madhubani painting seller, said, “There were no extinguishers. It took the fire brigade nearly one and a half hours to arrive.”

Delhi Police confirmed they received a PCR call at 8:45 pm and quickly dispatched officers from Sarojini Nagar Police Station. “About 24 shops in the Stage Area of Dilli Haat were engulfed in flames. The area was evacuated, and the fire was eventually brought under control,” the police said.

Authorities remain on-site as investigations continue into the exact cause of the fire, which is suspected to be due to a short circuit.

(With inputs from PTI)