Nigeria – Family Seeks Repatriation Support After Deadly Delhi Fire Tragedy
Nigeria – A Nigerian citizen undergoing treatment in New Delhi lost his life on Saturday while receiving care at Safdarjung Hospital, raising the number of fatalities linked to the recent fire tragedy to 22. The victim’s family has appealed to Indian authorities for assistance in transporting his remains back to Nigeria.
Family Appeals for Government Assistance
The deceased man’s brother expressed deep grief over the loss, stating that his sibling had traveled to India solely to receive medical treatment. He requested support from both the Indian government and Delhi Police to ensure that the body could be returned to their home country.
According to the family member, the victim, identified as Okele, succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital. Another Nigerian national, Chiemeka Emmanuel, who was known to him, continues to receive medical care at Max Hospital. The family described the situation as devastating, emphasizing that the two men had come to India seeking healthcare and never expected to face such a tragedy.
Questions Raised Over Emergency Response
The victim’s brother also voiced concerns about the handling of the incident. He suggested that the scale of the disaster might have been reduced if emergency services had been alerted sooner. He urged authorities to provide support not only to his family but also to others affected by the incident.
The fire has triggered broader discussions about emergency preparedness and response measures, particularly in situations involving residential and commercial buildings where large numbers of people may be present.
Investigation Focuses on Cause of Rapid Fire Spread
As the investigation progresses, Delhi Police is reportedly considering assistance from experts at IIT Delhi to better understand how the fire spread through the structure so quickly. Officials believe that a scientific assessment could help identify factors that contributed to the severity of the incident.
Preliminary findings have led investigators to examine the possibility that an air fryer may have been unintentionally left switched on while food was being prepared. Authorities are exploring whether this could have played a role in igniting the blaze.
Technical Assessment Planned
Officials familiar with the inquiry said that specialists may be asked to conduct a comprehensive study of the damaged building. The proposed examination could include structural analysis, fire behavior evaluation, and advanced three-dimensional mapping of the affected premises.
Such an assessment would help investigators reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the disaster and determine how the flames moved through different sections of the building. Authorities hope that the findings will provide valuable insights that could help prevent similar incidents in the future.
The investigation remains ongoing, and officials are expected to continue gathering evidence while working to establish the exact circumstances that led to one of the deadliest fire-related incidents in recent months. Families affected by the tragedy continue to await answers as authorities pursue a detailed review of the events surrounding the disaster.