New Delhi: A maze of electrical wires dangling dangerously outside buildings packed like matchboxes, and shops laden with combustible materials make the bustling Ram Chowk market a tinderbox.The decades-old commercial hub in southwest Delhi, which has over 450 shops, is a dense cluster of general stores, cosmetics shops, garment outlets and jewellery showrooms. It has been a key commercial centre for over 60 years, drawing daily crowds of shoppers and traders from across the city.The risks posed by the area’s congested layout were highlighted on Wednesday as firefighters battled the blaze even as many cheek-by-jowl shops were evacuated to prevent further damage. The nature of goods stored in these shops — highly combustible materials, including fabrics, packaging items, plastics and chemicals used in manufacturing cosmetics — compounds the danger and makes the area vulnerable to a blaze. Numerous posters, banners and temporary fittings across shopfronts increase the likelihood of flames spreading rapidly from one establishment to another.According to Mahesh, a local, the area almost always remains crowded as people from 10 to 15 nearby villages throng the market, apart from 60,000 to 70,000 people who live in the local Sadh Nagar ward.In addition to the commercial establishments, several residential buildings are crammed into the same space, often separated by narrow lanes. Running through the market, these lanes are congested, making the movement of fire tenders and emergency vehicles difficult under normal circumstances and nearly impossible during a crisis.Locals said congestion has increased manifold since apartments started cropping up here in 2008.Rampant storage of goods in residential buildings also poses a significant safety hazard. The electrical wires that crisscross the market add to the list of potential fire hazards. Residents say these wires have remained in place for years with minimal maintenance or regulation.In several stretches, dug-up roads, encroachments and uneven surfaces further restrict access, compounding the challenges for emergency responders trying to navigate the area.
