Fire at flower market in east Delhi, 150 jhuggis gutted

Around 150 jhuggis used by flower sellers were gutted in the fire at Ghazipur flower market in east Delhi on Thursday night.

A fire broke out at the Ghazipur flower market in East Delhi on Thursday night. Around 150 jhuggis, where shopkeepers sold flowers were gutted in the fire. Fire officials said the control room was alerted about the fire at around 11.30pm, following which 13 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. It took officials at least 3 hours to douse the fire. The loss of the vendors at the market ran into lakhs, officials said.

Fire officials said the control room was alerted about the fire at around 11.30pm, following which 13 fire tenders were rushed to the spot (Sushil Kumar / HT Photo)

The temporary sheds were used by flower sellers at the Ghazipur flower market. (Sushil Kumar / HT Photo)

Police said the 150 jhuggis, gutted in the fire, were also used to stock and sell flowers. Police suspect the fire was a result of short-circuit in one of the electricity poles near the sheds. Eyewitnesses claimed to have seen one of the cables from a nearby railway pole falling onto the temporary sheds.

Some families were living in the jhuggis, however, a police officer said, no one was injured in the fire.