New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) Two e-rickshaw drivers were killed after a fire broke out at a rented premises in Delhi’s Raghubir Nagar early Monday morning, police said.

The victims were reportedly charging portable e-rickshaw batteries at the premises when the incident occurred.

According to Delhi Police, a PCR call regarding the fire at R-17, First Floor, Raghubir Nagar, was received at Khyala Police Station at around 5:24 a.m. Following the alert, an investigating officer along with police staff immediately reached the spot.

Two injured persons were found at the premises and were identified as 17-year-old Md. Sufed, a resident of Bhagalpur, Bihar, and 38-year-old Md. Sahmad, also from Bhagalpur. Both were reportedly working as e-rickshaw drivers.

Police said preliminary enquiry revealed that Sufed was living at the rented premises along with his father, Md. Naseeb, and his maternal uncle, Md. Sahmad. All three were e-rickshaw drivers and used the premises for charging e-rickshaw batteries. Their other family members reside in Bhagalpur, Bihar.

The two injured men were immediately rushed to Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead.

The Delhi Fire Service team also reached the location and brought the fire under control. The premises were subsequently inspected as part of the investigation.

Police said further enquiry is underway to establish the exact cause of the fire and determine the circumstances that led to the incident. Officials are also examining the charging of portable e-rickshaw batteries at the premises as part of the investigation.

Further proceedings are being carried out in accordance with the law.

The incident comes amid a series of deadly fire-related accidents involving firefighting operations in the National Capital Region.

In a similar incident earlier this month, two fire service personnel were killed and three others injured after a wall and an iron beam collapsed during firefighting operations at an electronics manufacturing company in Greater Noida.

The incident occurred late on August 3 at ILGIM Company in the Ecotech-3 police station area of Greater Noida. The company manufactures electronic chips. After receiving information about a major fire at the facility, police and fire department teams reached the site and launched an extensive firefighting operation.

–IANS

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