<p>New Delhi: Firefighters toiled overnight in stifling heat to bring under control a massive fire that gutted more than 50 shops in tightly-packed buildings in north Delhi's Chandni Chowk area.</p>.<p>Flames were still simmering under some collapsed portions of buildings and a cooling operation is under way, officials said on Friday.</p>.<p>The fire broke out in Chandni Chowk's Old Katra Marwadi Market around 5 pm on Thursday. There were no casualties.</p>.<p>Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg said the fire was brought under control at 4:30 am.</p>.2023 saw 90% hike in breeding of vector-borne diseases in homes in Delhi: MCD report.<p>"Eight fire tenders have been deployed for the cooling operation. Over 50 fire tenders and 200 personnel worked through the night to control the blaze," he said.</p>.<p>More than 50 small and big shops were gutted in the fire, he added.</p>.<p>Two buildings housing multiple shops, including the one where the fire started, collapsed due to the blaze. Small fires are still simmering in combustible items under the debris, Garg said.</p>.<p>The shops that were gutted sold sarees, dupattas and other combustible items, according to officials.</p>.<p>Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) M K Meena said forensics and electricity departments will conduct an inspection after the cooling operation is complete.</p>.<p>An FIR is being registered in the matter, he said.</p>.<p>Another officer said the fire broke out due to a short circuit in an air conditioner in a shop on the second floor of one of the buildings and it quickly spread to other shops.</p>.<p>Firefighters struggled to douse the flames as shops are interconnected in the narrow lanes of the old Katra Marwadi Market, he said.</p>.<p>Nai Sadak Traders Welfare Association president Deepal Mahendru said the number of damaged shops may go up to 100.</p>.<p>He said due to the heat, traders are scared to go inside their shops.</p>.<p>"Once the cooling operation and inspection are completed, we can calculate the losses. They will be in crores," he said.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Firefighters toiled overnight in stifling heat to bring under control a massive fire that gutted more than 50 shops in tightly-packed buildings in north Delhi's Chandni Chowk area.</p>.<p>Flames were still simmering under some collapsed portions of buildings and a cooling operation is under way, officials said on Friday.</p>.<p>The fire broke out in Chandni Chowk's Old Katra Marwadi Market around 5 pm on Thursday. There were no casualties.</p>.<p>Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg said the fire was brought under control at 4:30 am.</p>.2023 saw 90% hike in breeding of vector-borne diseases in homes in Delhi: MCD report.<p>"Eight fire tenders have been deployed for the cooling operation. Over 50 fire tenders and 200 personnel worked through the night to control the blaze," he said.</p>.<p>More than 50 small and big shops were gutted in the fire, he added.</p>.<p>Two buildings housing multiple shops, including the one where the fire started, collapsed due to the blaze. Small fires are still simmering in combustible items under the debris, Garg said.</p>.<p>The shops that were gutted sold sarees, dupattas and other combustible items, according to officials.</p>.<p>Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) M K Meena said forensics and electricity departments will conduct an inspection after the cooling operation is complete.</p>.<p>An FIR is being registered in the matter, he said.</p>.<p>Another officer said the fire broke out due to a short circuit in an air conditioner in a shop on the second floor of one of the buildings and it quickly spread to other shops.</p>.<p>Firefighters struggled to douse the flames as shops are interconnected in the narrow lanes of the old Katra Marwadi Market, he said.</p>.<p>Nai Sadak Traders Welfare Association president Deepal Mahendru said the number of damaged shops may go up to 100.</p>.<p>He said due to the heat, traders are scared to go inside their shops.</p>.<p>"Once the cooling operation and inspection are completed, we can calculate the losses. They will be in crores," he said.</p>