In a dramatic development in the deadly Tughlaqabad fire that killed three members of a family on Friday morning, police revealed CCTV footage from the nearby area that shows a woman – her face covered with a scarf – entering the building just before the explosion and then quickly exiting the building, all within a few minutes, according to police.
Officers familiar with the developments said they were currently trying to identify the woman. The footage was captured by cameras installed outside a residence opposite the building and can be accessed by HT.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said investigators have launched efforts to identify and trace the woman. He added: “At this stage, we cannot say why she entered the building, or whether she came to meet someone, or whether she had any role in the incident. All angles are being examined.”
Residents claimed that the woman was seen heading towards the parking area shortly before the fire. Investigators are currently analyzing the footage along with other evidence collected from the scene.
“We saw the footage only today and when we spoke to some locals, they said they saw the woman speeding,” said Sourav Sharma, a 35-year-old man, who was among the first responders.
However, police officers confirmed that no conclusion had been reached regarding the woman’s role, and that the cause of the fire could only be determined after a detailed forensic examination.
A senior police officer, who requested anonymity, said he also suspected the fire started from an electric motorcycle that had been charged. “One of the deceased, Pankaj Pandey, also owned an electric scooter. The fire may have started from the same scooter, but that is a matter of investigation. A team from the forensic department visited the spot again on Saturday,” the officer said.
The fire broke out in the apartment building in southeast Delhi’s Tughlaqabad area at around 2.30am on Friday, killing 70-year-old Sushila Devi, her grandson Pankaj Pandey, 28, and granddaughter Soni, 20. Two other family members, Jodi Davey, 50, and Manny, 18, were seriously injured but are now said to be out of danger, according to police.
Three women living on the top floor of the building, Mumtaz and her two sisters, were also injured.
Police said the fire started in the ground floor parking lot where at least seven two-wheelers, including electric scooters, were present. Smoke from the fire quickly engulfed the entire building, trapping residents, especially those living on the upper floors.
A case has been registered at Govindpuri police station under Sections 106(1) (causing death by negligence) and 287 (negligent conduct in relation to fire) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against unknown persons. This tragedy has once again highlighted serious concerns about the safety of buildings in densely populated unregulated colonies in Delhi.
According to fire department officials, the building provided no means of escape once smoke filled the building. Built on a plot of approximately 100 square metres, it includes 10 apartments, two on each floor, and lacks fire exits, ventilation systems and fire-fighting equipment.
