Delhi: Massive fire breaks out in Karol Bagh's shoe market, several shops gutted

New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) A massive fire broke out at Rani Jhansi shoe market in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area in early hours of Sunday, destroying several shops, officials said.

Thirty-nine fire tenders were rushed to spot. Over 200 firefighters toiled for nearly five hours to douse blaze. one was seriously injured in fire and cooling operation is underway, y said.

cause of fire is t kwn yet, officials said.

"A serious fire call was received from a shoe market in Gaffar, Karol Bagh, at 4.16 am and 39 fire tenders were rushed to spot," Delhi Fire Services (DFS) Director Atul Garg said.

He said ne of shops that caught fire h a objection certificate from fire department.

fire department said shops in shoe market are rmally located on ground floors of buildings while upper floors are used as godowns.

Garg said firefighters faced difficulty in reaching spot as it was in a narrow congested lane.

"Lots of loose wires were hanging in market which is dangerous and causes inconvenience too. re was a short of water resources to douse fire. construction of building is weak, so structures have alrey developed cracks," he ded.

According to police, Rani Jhansi market houses wholesale footwear shops and six-seven of m were gutted in fire.

Local police reached spot immediately and cordoned off area. Electricity supply to area was cut off, officials said.

"Besides local police and Delhi Fire Services personnel, staff from CATS ambulance, Delhi Civil Defence, Delhi Disaster Manment Authority and traffic police were present at spot. local police have been in touch with MWA of market to ensure that or shops remained closed.

"DM Central and SDM Karol Bagh have also physically inspected spot in afteron," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shweta Chauhan said.

DFS personnel are carrying out a cooling operation at site, she said.

According to DFS, fire has weakened two buildings housing affected shops. Municipal Corporation of Delhi was informed about it, DCP said. PTI AMP DIV DIV