A fire swept through a four-storey commercial building in Delhi's Gaffar Market in the early hours of Friday, 6 November 2026, gutting a mobile accessories shop and spreading across the building just days before Diwali. No one was killed or injured, police and fire officials said, but between 20 and 25 shops were damaged and goods worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed.
The blaze broke out at about 1:28 am at shop number 13/21 in Puri Plaza, in the market's Chain Wali Gali lane in Karol Bagh, according to Delhi Police. A PCR call reached Karol Bagh police station within minutes, and officers found the fire already spreading through the building, which deals in mobile accessories. The Delhi Fire Service deployed 22 fire tenders to bring it under control; the operation continued for several hours before the blaze was extinguished.
Gaffar Market is one of Delhi's busiest wholesale markets for mobile phones and accessories, and the fire struck on Dhanteras, the first day of the Diwali shopping season, when traders stock up heavily. The market was closed when the fire broke out, which officials said helped prevent casualties.
What happened
According to police, the fire began in a ground-floor shop selling mobile accessories and spread upward through the four-storey building. Firefighters, supported by three CAT ambulances and two PCR vehicles, worked through the night to contain it. By Friday morning the blaze had been extinguished and the situation at the spot was under control, with police personnel deployed to maintain law and order.
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal, who visited the site, said around 20 to 25 shops may have been affected and that some traders had managed to retrieve their goods.
"There have been no casualties. There hasn't been any such damage. Some of the traders have even managed to retrieve their goods."
— Praveen Khandelwal, BJP MP, speaking to IANS at the scene
Officials stressed that no one was trapped inside the building and no rescue operation was needed.
What caused the fire
Police said overheating or overcharging of mobile batteries stored in the shop appears to be a possible cause, but the exact reason has not yet been established. A forensic science laboratory team will examine the building to determine whether any other combustible material contributed to the spread of the fire, and a report will also be sought from the Delhi Fire Service and the Electrical Inspector.
What is not yet confirmed: the cause of the fire is only suspected at this stage. Battery overheating is the preliminary theory offered by police; the forensic examination has not yet reported. Reports also differ on the scale of the response — the Delhi Fire Service figure cited by PTI is 22 fire tenders, while one report put the number at 27.
Police said a structural safety assessment or certificate would also be obtained from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to rule out any risk to human life from the fire-damaged building.
A market on edge before Diwali
The fire comes at the worst possible moment for traders. Gaffar Market draws wholesale buyers from across north India, and the days before Diwali are its busiest of the year, with shops packed with stock. The loss of goods — reported to be worth lakhs of rupees — will hit small traders hardest, many of whom operate on thin margins and seasonal credit.
It is also the second serious incident in central Delhi in as many days. On Thursday, 5 November, a three-storey under-construction building collapsed in the Chawri Bazar area of Old Delhi, killing two labourers, identified as Kishori, 40, and Sanjeet, 45, and injuring at least four people. Three contractors were later arrested, and officials said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi had issued a warning about the building six months earlier.
Context: Delhi's fire services are stretched every Diwali season. The festival brings a sharp rise in fire calls — from crackers, decorative lights and overloaded wiring — and wholesale markets packed with electronic goods and batteries are among the highest-risk sites. Battery fires are particularly dangerous because lithium-ion cells can reignite hours after being doused, which is one reason fire crews stayed at Gaffar Market long after the flames were out.
| Time | What happened |
|---|---|
| ~1:28 am, Fri 6 Nov | Fire reported at shop 13/21, Puri Plaza, Gaffar Market; PCR call received at Karol Bagh police station |
| Early hours | Blaze spreads through the four-storey building; 22 fire tenders, ambulances and police deployed |
| Friday morning | Fire extinguished; no casualties or injuries reported; police say situation under control |
| Later Friday | BJP MP says 20–25 shops may have been affected; forensic and structural safety checks ordered |
| Thu 5 Nov | Under-construction building collapses in Chawri Bazar, Old Delhi; two labourers killed, at least four injured |
Frequently asked questions
Was anyone hurt in the Gaffar Market fire?
No. Police and fire officials said no deaths or injuries were reported. The market was closed when the fire broke out, and no one was trapped inside the building.
What caused the fire?
The cause has not been confirmed. Police suspect overheating or overcharging of mobile batteries stored in the ground-floor accessories shop, but a forensic examination is under way and the exact cause will only be established after that report.
How many shops were damaged?
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said around 20 to 25 shops may have been affected. The full extent of the property damage, including the value of goods destroyed, has not yet been officially assessed.
Is the building safe now?
The fire has been extinguished and the area is under control, but police said a structural safety assessment would be obtained from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi before the building is declared safe.
Why does this matter before Diwali?
Gaffar Market is a major wholesale hub for mobile phones and accessories, and the days before Diwali are its peak trading period. The fire destroys seasonal stock at the moment traders can least afford it, and it follows a fatal building collapse in Old Delhi the day before — a reminder of the safety risks in the capital's oldest commercial districts.
Key takeaways
- A fire broke out at about 1:28 am on Friday at a mobile accessories shop in Puri Plaza, Gaffar Market, Karol Bagh, and spread through a four-storey building.
- No one was killed or injured, and no one was trapped inside; 22 fire tenders brought the blaze under control over several hours.
- Around 20 to 25 shops may have been affected, with goods worth lakhs of rupees destroyed, days before Diwali.
- Police suspect battery overheating or overcharging, but the cause is unconfirmed pending a forensic examination.
- The fire came a day after a building collapse in Chawri Bazar killed two labourers — the second serious incident in central Delhi in two days.
What to watch next
The forensic science laboratory's findings on the cause of the fire, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's structural safety assessment of Puri Plaza, will determine whether traders can return to the building and whether any safety action follows. Traders will also be watching for any compensation or relief announcement, and for the official assessment of losses. With Diwali days away, Delhi's fire service will be on heightened alert across the capital's markets — and the Gaffar Market fire is a warning of how quickly a single shop fire can become a building-wide blaze.
