A sudden plume of thick smoke rising above North Block near Rashtrapati Bhavan sparked a security scare in the high-security administrative heart of New Delhi. The iconic government complex was undergoing routine renovation and construction activities when the incident occurred. Workers engaged in rooftop welding generated a spark that quickly produced noticeable smoke billowing into the sky. Officials confirmed that the situation was brought under control almost immediately, preventing the minor spark from escalating into a serious blaze.
Fire Engines Mobilized to High-Security Complex
Upon receiving distress alerts regarding smoke emanating from North Block, Delhi Fire Services initiated a swift emergency response. The department dispatched 6 fire tenders directly to the location to secure the perimeter and extinguish any lingering hazard. Fire personnel arrived on the scene to inspect the rooftop installations and evaluate the surrounding area. Official assessments confirmed that the incident stemmed strictly from the rooftop welding operations and that fire safety teams contained the issue without delay.
Milind Deora Shares Visuals from En Route to Parliament
Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Milind Deora witnessed the incident firsthand and wrote on X alongside an image showing heavy smoke ascending into the sky. He observed the dense dark column rising behind North Block while traveling toward Parliament. In his post, he noted that it appeared a fire had broken out, while expressing hope that everyone in the vicinity remained unhurt and that emergency crews were acting swiftly. The shared photograph captured the dark cloud drifting above the central government quarters before emergency units reached the site.
Past Incident at Karkardooma Court Complex
The episode comes shortly after a comparable fire incident at another prominent legal installation in Delhi, the Karkardooma Court complex. In that earlier occurrence, flames broke out on the second floor of the court building, specifically inside a scanning room situated close to gate number 4. Delhi Fire Services were alerted to that blaze at 5:22 AM and deployed 8 fire tenders to manage the emergency. Firefighters worked swiftly to contain the spread across the judicial chambers, successfully bringing the fire completely under control by 5:50 AM without any casualties or injuries recorded.
