Showroom gutted in northwest Delhi fire

A major fire broke out at a Bata showroom in northwest Delhi's Kingsway Camp Market, causing substantial financial losses due to damage to stock and property.

A major fire broke out at a showroom in Kingsway Camp Market on Saturday morning, and large quantities of stock were gutted, causing substantial financial losses, police said.

Police received a PCR call regarding the blaze at the Bata showroom in Mukherji Nagar around 6:52 am in northwest Delhi.

Soon after receiving the information, police rushed to the scene and found that the fire initially erupted on the showroom's ground floor.

Police said the flames quickly spread to the first and second floors because the shop's shutter could not be broken open immediately, delaying fire-fighting efforts initially.

Officials said the shop housed a huge stock of shoes packed in paper boxes, which intensified the fire and made the operation more challenging.

The fire caused heavy financial losses to the showroom due to damage to stock and property, police said.

Dense smoke engulfed the market area during the operation, drawing a large crowd and shopkeepers, police said.

Police cordoned off the area and ensured no one entered the affected premises during the fire-fighting.

''It took nearly four hours to douse the fire,'' a police officer said.

No injuries or casualties were reported in the incident, officials said.

Senior police officers also reached the scene, and traffic movement on the adjoining road was temporarily halted to facilitate the movement of fire tenders and emergency response teams.

Around five to six fire tenders were pressed into service.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained and an investigation is underway, police said.