A recent RTI revealed serious gaps in Delhi University’s fire safety infrastructure, with a lack of information regarding the safety equipment deployed across DU campuses. The recent incidents of fire breakouts across the University raise serious questions about preparedness in the event of a mishap.
Delhi University, once regarded as a pinnacle of academic and architecture, now finds itself embroiled in a fresh controversy. The institution has come under fire for the deteriorating state of fire safety infrastructure across its colleges. Replying to an RTI (Right to Information) filed by Rahul Jhansla, Vice President of the Delhi University Students Union, the University stated that –
They do not have any such inventory available. Nor do they have any record available in the engineering department”
When DU Beat reached out to Rahul Jhansla regarding these lapses, he responded by stating that-
RTII recently visited LC-2 for an inspection concerning its budget and expenditure. However, the administration failed to provide any records detailing expenditure, and the yearly budget presented was factually incorrect. Additionally, with regard to fire safety, my team filed several RTIs seeking information on the inventory of fire-safety equipment and the expiry dates of fire extinguishers. The responses revealed that the University does not maintain any ledger or systematic record of these critical safety assets”.
The lack of any comprehensive information regarding the safety equipment deployed across Delhi University campuses raises serious and urgent questions about the preparedness of the fire safety infrastructure in the event of any mishap.
An incident of fire breakout was reported on 10 June 2025 at the Department of Zoology, Delhi University. The fire originated in the computer room of a laboratory located on the fifth floor of the department. Fire brigade teams were rushed to the spot, initiating a prompt response to bring the situation under control. Timely intervention by the authorities averted what could have otherwise escalated into a major disaster.
A similar incident was reported at Ram Lal Anand College, located in the South Campus, on 12 April 2022. The fire broke out in the college auditorium, immediately alerting the authorities. Fire brigade teams were rushed to the scene and successfully doused the flames. No casualties were reported at the time. However, this was not an isolated incident. On 9 June 2020, a fire had earlier broken out in the computer lab of the same college, as confirmed by a Delhi Fire Service official. In both instances, prompt responses prevented major damage. The recurrence of such incidents raises serious questions about the adequacy of fire safety infrastructure, particularly in the peripheral colleges of Delhi University.
Additionally, several videos of similar fire incidents have been circulating on the internet, allegedly involving Zakir Husain College and Ramjas College. However, no verified sources could be found to substantiate these claims.
Fire safety is not the only concern. Delhi University appears to be lagging on multiple fronts, with calls for urgent reforms. While prompt responses have prevented disasters in certain fire-related incidents, the same cannot be said in many other cases. Incidents such as ceiling fans falling and injuring a faculty member at Kalindi College, or broken tables and chairs being given during semester examinations, point towards a broader pattern of infrastructural neglect.
Ignoring these issues is not merely a violation of UGC guidelines; it represents a serious breach of the trust that students place in the institution as a safe and secure space. Delhi University must prepare more robustly to tackle such challenges.
Read Also: Fire Breaks Out at DU’s Guru Gobind Singh College: Over 3000 Books Destroyed, No Casualties Reported
Feature Image Credits – Devesh for DU Beat
Rahul Kumar
