A fire broke out on the second floor of the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) campus in Delhi’s ITO area on Monday morning. The blaze, which prompted a swift response from the Delhi Fire Service, was brought under control and extinguished without any reported casualties or injuries. The incident caused some disruption in the busy ITO area, which is a key commercial and governmental hub in the national capital.
Information regarding the fire was received by the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) at approximately 9:37 a.m. Following the alert, eight fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the location. Firefighting operations commenced promptly upon the arrival of the emergency services at the SPA campus. The affected area was identified as faculty rooms within the administrative block on the second floor of the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with initial reports suggesting a possible origin related to an air conditioning unit, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The Delhi Fire Service confirmed that the fire was brought under control by 10:30 a.m. and subsequently extinguished. Cooling down operations were carried out by the fire tenders to ensure that the blaze did not reignite. The DFS deployed a significant number of resources to the scene, including fire tenders, ambulances, and police personnel, to manage the situation and ensure public safety. Local police were also present, with information about the incident initially received at the IP Estate Police Station.
Initial reports from some media outlets suggested the fire had occurred in the Ministry of Education office, which is housed within the SPA campus. However, the Delhi Fire Service and the Ministry of Education later issued clarifications rectifying that the fire incident was confined to the SPA premises itself. The Ministry of Education stated that its office is located at Kartavya Bhavan-2, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi, and not at the ITO campus where the fire occurred. This clarification was issued to prevent the spread of misinformation.
The SPA campus in ITO is a significant institutional area, housing academic facilities and administrative offices. The proximity of the fire to government buildings and the busy ITO intersection heightened concerns among officials and the public. While the fire was described as minor by some officials, the rapid deployment of emergency services underscored the seriousness with which such incidents are treated in densely populated urban environments like Delhi. The affected area of the building sustained damage to electrical wiring, installations, wooden partitions, furniture, and other household items, estimated to span approximately 3,000 square feet.
The incident led to a political reaction from the Congress party, with senior leader Jairam Ramesh describing the fire as “very concerning” and “very fishy.” He raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the blaze at the Ministry of Education’s offices, although authorities clarified the fire was at the SPA. Investigations are ongoing to determine the precise cause of the fire and the extent of the damage. Officials have assured that the situation is now fully under control and there is no active fire in the building.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
 campus in Delhi's ITO area on Monday. Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control; no injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation.){kind=link}