Delhi: 1 dead, 2,000 homeless as massive fire engulfs slum
A huge fire broke out at a slum cluster near Rithala Metro station in northwest Delhi on Saturday night, destroying 500 temporary homes and leaving about 2,000 people without shelter.
One person lost their life, and early reports suggest the blaze started when a transformer sparked; the fire expanded after some cooking gas cylinders also caught fire.
Government support has been minimal so far
With their homes gone, many residents spent the night outside in the cold—like Parveen Khatoon, who stayed up to keep her specially-abled child warm.
Aisha Bibi, eight months pregnant, found shelter on a factory terrace with her kids and shared worries about what comes next.
Local volunteers have stepped up with food and clothes, but government support has been minimal so far; a single relief center with nine compartments has been set up for thousands of people.