Man, two kids die jumping from burning flat

Family trapped in blaze at 10th-floor of duplex penthouse in Dwarka's Sector 13 are forced to jump to their deaths

- Hemani Bhandari

NEW DELHI: A devastating blaze in Dwarka's Sector 13 claimed three lives on Tuesday morning when a 45-year-old man, his 10-year-old daughter, and 12-year-old nephew were forced to jump to their deaths from the 10th floor of the burning building.

The deceased were identified as Yash Yadav, the owner of a penthouse in Dwarka's Shabad Apartments, his daughter Ashima Yadav and nephew Shivam Yadav. The family lives in a duplex on the top two floors of the building.

While fire officials said the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, initial investigation has pointed to the fire originating from a prayer room on the ninth floor around 9.30am, which then rapidly spread through PVC panelling in the luxury apartment.

Delhi Fire Services received the emergency call at 10.00am, initially reporting a fire on the seventh floor. Eight fire tenders responded to the scene.

"At 12.30pm, the fire officer reported five injured persons were taken to hospitals," said Atul Garg, DFS director. "Four went to Akash Hospital, one to Indira Gandhi Hospital. Two children were declared dead at Akash, and the man died at IG Hospital—all before DFS arrival."

At the time of the incident, nine family members were present in the apartment for a family event in Uttam Nagar.

While six others survived, two women—Yash's wife Mamta and sister-in-law Madhuri—were treated for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning and minor injuries before being discharged.

The survivors included Madhuri's husband Ankit, their one-year-old daughter, and two relatives, all rescued by locals.

The blaze in the top floor of the building, surrounded by other residential buildings led to widespread panic. Neighbours and passersby recorded videos of the incident, showing black smoke billowing out of the upper floors, and flames leaping out of the flat. Other videos showed the horrific moment where the three people leap out of the balcony.