Two separate emergency incidents unfolded across different parts of Delhi on Sunday, with a structural roof collapse resulting in the loss of two lives in the eastern part of the capital, while quick thinking prevented potential casualties during a residential building fire in the western area. In Northeast Delhi, a couple died after a roof slab collapsed inside their rented accommodation in New Usmanpur. Meanwhile, in Rajouri Garden, three occupants, including a toddler, executed a daring escape using a saree as an improvised rope after a fire broke out in a four-story structure.
Tragic Roof Collapse in New Usmanpur Claims Couple's Lives
The first tragedy occurred around 10 PM on Sunday night inside a single-story home located near Hansraj Dairy in the Ganwari Extension of JP Nagar, which falls under the New Usmanpur police station jurisdiction. The rented property, spanning an area of roughly 120 square feet, was occupied by 32-year-old Tinku and his 30-year-old wife Urmila. Tinku, who was also identified as Akash, hailed from the Etawah district in Uttar Pradesh and worked as a halwai in Delhi to support his family. Without warning, a portion of the structure's roof slab and balcony projection shifted and caved in.
Both Tinku and Urmila were inside the residence at the moment of the collapse and became trapped under the heavy debris. Fortunately, a young child present in the home managed to escape completely unharmed. Hearing the collapse, local residents immediately alerted emergency services while attempting initial rescue efforts. Teams from the Delhi Police, the Delhi Fire Service, and specialized rescue units arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the call to extract the victims from beneath the rubble. Emergency personnel managed to pull the couple out and rushed them to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital. However, attending medical staff declared both individuals dead upon arrival.
Police Launch Investigation into Structural Failure
Police officials noted that the single-story nature of the building limited the scale of physical destruction, as a multi-story structure collapse could have caused far higher casualties. Authorities are actively investigating the precise circumstances that led to the sudden shifting and failure of the roof slab. Local police have initiated official inquiries to determine whether structural flaws or maintenance issues contributed to the accident.
Fire Outbreak at Four-Story Rajouri Garden Residence
In a separate incident earlier on Sunday afternoon, a fire swept through a residential building in the Rajouri Garden area, located under the jurisdiction of the Hari Nagar police station. The fire broke out in a four-story building that covers a footprint of approximately 300 square yards. The Delhi Fire Service received an emergency dispatch call at 4:10 PM, prompting the immediate deployment of five fire tenders to the location. Firefighters worked swiftly to extinguish the flames and brought the situation fully under control by around 4:40 PM.
Heroic Escape Using Saree as an Improvised Rope
According to fire department officials, the blaze originated in a basement service shaft where a substantial accumulation of rubbish and garbage had gathered. Flames and dense smoke quickly spread upward through the shaft, filling portions of the first, second, and third floors. Panic spread through the structure as smoke accumulated, but residents on the second floor took decisive action before emergency crews arrived.
A 62-year-old woman, a 32-year-old woman, and a 3-year-old girl tied a saree together to act as a sturdy makeshift rope. Lowering themselves from the second-floor height, all three individuals reached the ground safely without sustaining severe injuries. The quick resourcefulness displayed by the occupants prevented what could have been a fatal disaster in the burning building.
