Thick smoke rises from Delhi’s North Block as six fire tenders respond to a rooftop blaze. (Img: X)
New Delhi: A minor fire broke out on the rooftop of Delhi’s North Block on Monday morning, October 26, triggering an emergency response after thick black smoke was seen billowing from the prominent government building. Six fire tenders were rushed to the site, and the blaze was brought under control within minutes. No casualties were reported.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received a distress call at around 11.10 am after smoke was spotted emanating from the building, which houses key Union government offices, including the Ministries of Home Affairs and Finance. Firefighters reached the location and extinguished the flames by approximately 11.25 am, according to reports.
The incident briefly raised concerns around the Raisina Hill administrative complex as the smoke rose above the historic red-sandstone structure. Emergency personnel responded promptly, and the situation was brought under control without any reported loss of life.
Preliminary reports indicated that repair, renovation and welding work was underway on the rooftop when the fire broke out. The blaze was variously reported to have involved an old plastic water tank or a fibre tank associated with the building’s chiller plant, which is used for cooling. Other reports suggested that a short circuit involving an air-conditioning boiler may have triggered the incident.
The exact sequence of events and the precise source of ignition have not been conclusively established in the available reports. The circumstances surrounding the fire therefore remain subject to official verification.
Workers present at the site reportedly helped bring the flames under control before the emergency response was completed. The Delhi Fire Services deployed six fire tenders as a precautionary measure to prevent the incident from escalating and to ensure that the affected rooftop area was secured. No casualties had been reported in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Further details regarding the extent of damage, if any, were not immediately available.
Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora also noticed thick smoke rising from behind North Block while travelling to Parliament on Monday morning. He flagged the incident on social media and expressed hope that everyone at the site was safe and that emergency services were responding swiftly.
The visible plume of smoke drew attention to the building, one of the most prominent administrative landmarks in the national capital. The swift deployment of fire tenders helped contain the situation before it developed into a major emergency.
Located on Raisina Hill in New Delhi, North Block forms part of the historic Union Secretariat complex and houses offices associated with critical government functions. Its significance as an administrative hub made the rooftop fire a matter of immediate public interest.
While the incident was minor and no casualties were reported, it has highlighted the importance of fire-safety precautions during repair and maintenance work in major government buildings. Electrical equipment, cooling infrastructure, welding operations and other renovation activities require appropriate safety checks and emergency preparedness to minimise the risk of accidental fires. The blaze was brought under control shortly after the emergency call, and no further escalation was reported in the immediate aftermath.
