New Delhi: A major fire accident occurred at Chandini Chowk in New Delhi on Thursday night at 9 pm in Bhaghiratha Place caused damage to nearly 150 shops a complex housing electronics stores, assembly units and warehouses.

Three buildings have collapsed and around 150 shops have so far been burnt hollow in a massive fire in the Chandini Chowk area. The fire began at around 9 pm on Thursday, and appeared to have been doused by Friday morning, which is when a new blaze started in some shops and has gone on spreading since. The fire broke out in a shop in Mahalaxmi Market and soon spread to the adjacent shops of electrical appliances, officials said. Besides the smoke, the stench of burning plastic and rubber polluted the air.

According to the fire official sources, three of the five large buildings affected by the fire have collapsed, though no loss of life or anyone injured has been reported as the fire began after the shops were all but closed. The fire was brought under control on Friday morning and the cooling process was underway but by evening, it reignited and became massive once again. It has been nearly 24 hours since the fire broke out and firefighters are still struggling to douse the flames.

20 fire tenders were engaged in extinguishing the blaze and up to 40 fire tenders have so far been engaged since last night, at 9 pm on Friday. DCP (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said as soon as information about the fire was received, the fire department, NDRF, MCD and reserve force from police rushed to the spot.

Delhi Chief Minister Aravind Kejriwal expressed grief over the incident and said he is taking stock of the situation from the district administration concerned.