Two children dead in Delhi slum fire

New Delhi  : At least two children died and six people were injured after a major fire broke out in a sprawling slum cluster in west Delhi’s Narela area Friday afternoon. Four fire service officials also sustained minor injuries when an angry mob attacked them, a fire service official said.

The children who died of burn injuries have been identified as Sartaj and Manish, both aged around five. “All the injured were rushed to the Maharishi Valmiki Hospital,” a police officer said.

Armed with stones and sticks, a mob attacked fire officials for delaying the rescue operation. A fire tender was also vandalised by the mob.

“Four fire service officials were injured in the attack. They have been admitted to hospital and their condition is stated to be stable,” Delhi Fire Service Director A.K. Sharma told IANS.

The fire erupted in a house at the J.J. Colony of Narela and engulfed the entire area that housed over 500 shanties.

“Twenty fire tenders were rushed in. The fire is under control now but it is still to be fully doused,” Sharma said.