Eight Rescued, One Pet Dog Dies in New Friends Colony Building Fire

New Delhi: Eight people were rescued after a fire broke out in a residential building in southeast Delhi’s New Friends Colony on Sunday afternoon. A pet dog died due to suffocation.Three fire tenders, along with around 20 fire personnel, were deployed to tackle the blaze. Officials said the fire erupted on the first floor of the building and generated dense smoke that quickly spread through the premises. The smoke blocked the central staircase, cutting off the primary escape route and trapping residents on the upper floors.A coordinated operation was launched and rescuers safely evacuated all trapped occupants from the building. Four children, two women and two men were brought out.During the operation, rescuers also found two pet dogs unconscious due to severe smoke inhalation. One of the dogs succumbed to suffocation. The other dog was rushed to a nearby veterinary hospital, where it is undergoing treatment and remains under critical care.Preliminary inquiry suggests that the blaze was started after a short circuit. Further probe is underway.