Deadly Fire Claims Three Lives in Delhi Slum; Lone Survivor Describes Harrowing Escape

New Delhi- A devastating fire broke out in an Anand Vihar slum in Delhi around 2 AM on Tuesday, claiming the lives of three laborers and leaving one survivor with minor injuries, officials reported.

The fire engulfed a temporary tent structure on a DDA plot near Manglam Road where four workers employed by the IGL company were sleeping. The tent was completely destroyed in the blaze.

The sole survivor, Nitin Singh, recounted the terrifying moments when he was awakened by one of his colleagues. "Shyam Singh woke me up, hitting me to alert me about the fire. He was trying to unlock the door with a key. I assumed everyone had already escaped, so I climbed down a wall to safety," Singh told reporters. He sustained minor burns and injuries to his leg during his escape.

The three victims were identified as Jaggi, Shyam Singh, and Kanta Prasad. According to preliminary investigations, a diesel container kept on a cooler stand, which the laborers used to light a lamp inside their tent, may have ignited the fire. The blaze was reportedly intensified by a gas cylinder explosion.

The workers had locked the temporary gate from inside for safety, which may have hindered their escape during the emergency.

"I kept calling their phones all night after learning about the fire. We had no idea they had died. We thought they had escaped," said Dilip, the employer of the deceased workers. "Jaggi had been working with us for ten years, while brothers Shyam Singh and Kanta Prasad worked seasonally, coming and going every few months."

Fire services arrived at the scene and extinguished the flames. Forensic teams are examining the site to determine the exact cause of the fire, while police are investigating all possible angles.

The bodies of the deceased have been transferred to a mortuary for post-mortem examination. Police have recorded statements from the survivor, fellow laborer Jeetender, and Rampal, the father of the deceased siblings.