By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
A massive fire broke out in the busy Gaffar Market in Delhi’s Karol Bagh area in the early hours of Friday, causing extensive damage to shops and a four-storey commercial building dealing in mobile accessories.
The blaze erupted at Puri Plaza in 13 Block, Chain Wali Gali, around 1.28 am, triggering panic in the densely populated market area. As the fire spread through the building, the Delhi Fire Service rushed 22 fire service units to the spot to bring the situation under control.
According to police, the fire is suspected to have originated in a ground-floor shop where mobile phone batteries were stored. It subsequently spread to the upper floors of the four-storey building, engulfing several commercial establishments.
Around 20 to 25 fire tenders were rushed to the scene, along with three Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulances and two police control room vehicles. Firefighters battled the flames for several hours before bringing the blaze under control.
However, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident, although the fire caused extensive damage to property.
Police suspect that overheating or overcharging of mobile phone batteries could have triggered the blaze. However, the exact cause is yet to be established.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will also be asked to conduct a structural safety assessment to ensure that the building does not pose any danger.
The incident once again highlights the fire safety risks in densely packed commercial markets, where shops dealing in electronic goods and batteries operate in closely spaced buildings.