A major fire has gutted about 50 shanties in the Rohingya refugee camp in Delhi. According to reports, the fire broke out early on Sunday morning and soon spread in the camp located in the Kalindikunj area of Southeast Delhi.
#Visuals from Delhi: Fire had broken out in a slum near Kalindi Kunj Metro Station where around 228 Rohingya refugees were residing, at around 3:30 am today. 1 injured. 44 temporary camps gutted in the fire. (earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/VVev9E1y1G
— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2018
About 230 Rohingyas have reportedly lost their shanties in the fire that broke early on Sunday. The fire reportedly started from a toilet and soon engulfed the camp. Many Rohingyas have stated that they have lost their belongings and documents, including ID cards issued by the UN, in the fire.
Eleven fire engines were rushed to the spot and it took almost three hours to douse the flames. Almost all shanties were made up of asbestos sheets and burned up fast as they were built close to each other.
The police have taken measures to provide the affected with shelter, food and drinking water. Police officials, with help from locals, have set up tarpaulin tents in the nearby area and are reportedly providing food, water and other basic necessities to the affected people. Locals have reportedly set up temporary kitchens to feed them and UN aid workers have also reached the spot.
Delhi: Rohingya refugees, living in a slum near Kalindi Kunj Metro Station, shifted to the nearby ground after the slum caught fire last morning, say ‘Everything we had was gutted in the fire. We’re being provided food & clothes by locals, a lot of help was provided by police’. pic.twitter.com/U7dSlf24lm
— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2018
The police are yet to establish the cause of the fire and a preliminary probe suspected a short circuit. A forensic team has been investigating on the spot of the incident. Around 60 families were living in that camp and no casualty has been reported.
