New Delhi: Two children have tragically lost their lives and five others were injured after a devastating fire ravaged over 800 shanties in a jhuggi cluster in Sector 17, Rohini, on Sunday morning, according to a Delhi Fire Service official.

The blaze, which broke out at approximately 11:55 am, was eventually brought under control after fire-fighters battled the flames for more than three hours. However, cooling operations are still ongoing, the official added.

The bodies of two children, aged two and a half and three years old, were recovered from the charred remains of the shanties, said Amit Goel, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini). They were immediately transported to a nearby hospital.

A Delhi Fire Service spokesperson confirmed that they received the distress call and dispatched 17 fire engines to the scene. As the fire intensified, the operation was upgraded to a medium-level emergency, with additional vehicles and manpower summoned, bringing the total number of fire tenders deployed to 26.

The fire quickly spread across an area of around five acres, consuming densely packed shanties. Thick smoke filled the air as fire-fighters worked tirelessly to contain the blaze. By 12:40 pm, the fire had been classified as medium-level, prompting the further mobilisation of resources.

Authorities believe the fire started from one of the huts in the cluster and quickly spread throughout the area. The absence of organised electrical wiring and the presence of several LPG cylinders in the area could have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, though the exact cause is still under investigation. Police are looking into the possibility that the fire may have originated within the cluster itself.

Fire-fighters faced considerable challenges due to the location of the fire, with a nearby apartment complex and its boundary walls obstructing access to the site. Fire engines had to be lined up one after the other, which caused some delays in the operation.

In addition to the fire brigade, multiple police teams were deployed to the scene. Cooling operations continue, and a full investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.