‘Bhaiya, bacha lo’: Frantic last call as flames spread, family of 5 dies in Delhi's Shahdara blaze

NEW DELHI : Every Saturday, 35-year-old Nishank Jain and his family would gather over a video call. This time, the conversations were filled with excitement as they planned to celebrate his nephew, five-year-old Anant’s birthday on Sunday at a resort in Manesar.


Deepak (37), Nishank’s elder brother and Anant’s father, had already reached the resort with his wife and children, while the rest of the family was to join the next day. Nishank, his wife Aanchal (33), their 18-month-old son Akaay, and Nishank’s parents, Arvind (60) and Anita (58), never made it. All five were charred to death. Family members said that around 3.45am, as flames spread rapidly, Nishank made frantic calls to Deepak, crying, “Bhaiya, bacha lo.” The calls ended abruptly. They later contacted their driver, Karamvir Singh, to go and check. By then, it was too late.


Nishank, a CA at his firm in Connaught Place, and Aanchal, an employee at a public sector bank, had waited eight years for a child. Akaay’s birth had brought immense joy to the family. “They had been waiting for the baby for so long. It is all gone in an instant,” said Pritesh, Nishank’s brother-in-law.



Lack of proper exits costs families dear



It cushioned their fall as flames began reaching the balcony. Their father, Naveen Jain, also suffered injuries.


On what may have happened, Nitin’s mother Deepa told TOI , “They tried to run upstairs to reach the terrace, but they must have picked up the wrong keys to open the lock. They couldn’t get it open and got trapped there.”


Locals and family members said Nishank’s son Akaay was found holding onto the charred remains of one of his parents.
Residents alleged a delay in response, saying the fire started around 3.13am. At the time, most residents were sleeping. Several locals at the spot claimed multiple calls were made to DFS, but the number turned out to be ‘invalid’.


A senior fire official said they received the first call around 3.47am and teams were dispatched immediately.


The building where the blaze broke out houses eight families, with an 800 sq yard plot split into two 400 sq yard flats on each floor. The structure comprises stilt parking and four floors -first, second, third and fourth. Each floor is divided into multiple flats, with a total of eight flats in the building.


DCP (Shahdara) RP Meena said the fire is suspected to have started due to a malfunctioning air-conditioner on the second floor.
Residents pointed to multiple hazards that may have worsened the situation. They said the entire backside had been sealed with iron grills, with no staircase or opening for escape.


Police have filed an FIR and, along with the fire and electricity departments, are investigating the incident.