Fire reported near North Block in Delhi, six fire tenders rushed to scene

Thick smoke billowed from the North Block in New Delhi on Monday morning before crews extinguished a small fire that broke out during maintenance operations. The incident occurred at the historic administrative structure on Raisina Hill, which serves as part of the central government’s Secretariat complex. Emergency responders contained the blaze without reporting any injuries or fatalities. Delhi Fire Services logged a call regarding the incident at approximately 11:10 a.m. Local time. Upon receiving the alert, authorities dispatched six fire tenders to the site. Witnesses observed dense plumes of smoke rising from behind the building shortly before the formal alarm was raised. Rajya Sabha member Milind Deora posted on social media platform X that he saw the smoke while traveling toward Parliament. He expressed hope that personnel inside remained safe and noted that emergency units appeared to be moving quickly to address the situation. Officials attributed the ignition to internal dismantling and repair activities taking place within the facility. Police indicated that renovation work was ongoing on the rooftop of the building, where laborers were present. One account specified that the fire started in an aged plastic water tank situated on the terrace. Workers on the roof reportedly attempted to smother the initial flames themselves before professional firefighters arrived. The Delhi Fire Service later confirmed that the blaze had been fully put out. The North Block stands as one of two prominent colonial-era structures that constitute the main Secretariat building in the Indian capital. These facilities house several key federal departments, including the ministries of Home Affairs and Finance. The presence of these high-level government offices underscores the strategic importance of the location for national administration. Despite the proximity to critical government functions, the disruption remained limited to the physical damage caused by the localized fire. No individuals were injured in the incident, according to multiple official statements. The rapid response of the fire brigade prevented the spread of the flames beyond the immediate area of origin. Authorities did not announce any further disruptions to daily operations within the ministry complexes following the containment of the fire. The specific cause of the ignition during the repair process was not detailed beyond the mention of active maintenance work. The event highlighted the ongoing maintenance efforts required to preserve the structural integrity of the aging government infrastructure. Laborers working on the upper levels played a role in the initial suppression of the heat source. Fire service teams completed their operations once they verified that all hotspots were cold. The area returned to normal activity as the smoke dissipated. Officials maintained that safety protocols were followed throughout the evacuation and firefighting procedures. The incident concluded without any long-term impact on the functionality of the housed ministries.