Updated: Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:41 (IST) Four people have lost their lives in fire incidents in night shelters in Delhi in the last 14 years. Due to the neglect of safety standards, night shelters become deadly. There is a demand for safety audit of night shelters so that such incidents can be prevented in the future and the safety of vulnerable people can be ensured. Situation inside the night shelter after the fire near Coolie Camp was extinguished. Jagran Jagran Correspondent, South Delhi. Arrangements for overnight accommodation have been made in Delhi for homeless workers. But due to lack of better maintenance and security lapses, this shelter turns out to be a disaster for them. In the last 14 years, there have been three major incidents of fires in night shelters, in which four people, including a nine-year-old girl, have lost their lives. Remove Ads Read Only News Center for Holistic Development, an organization working for homeless workers, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the Fire Chief on Monday demanding immediate security audit in all types of night shelters. Lack of infrastructure is the main reason for frequent incidents of fire in night shelters due to lack of fire safety standards and infrastructure. The organization demanded an immediate fire safety audit of all permanent, temporary and tent shelter sites in Delhi by the fire chief or authorized officer and the preparation of clear fire safety standards. According to the guidelines given for urban homeless under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihood Mission, all temporary shelters should be converted into permanent night shelters soon. Necessary improvements must be made by having the electricity connections and wiring in the shelter sites audited by the relevant electricity suppliers and DUSIB. Arrangement of fireproof and waterproof tents: It is necessary to have fireproof and waterproof tents for temporary shelters. Availability of fire fighting equipment must be ensured and mandatory training must be given to the care staff. The auction based tender system for managing shelter sites should be abolished and arrangements should be made to manage it by making only a panel of reliable and competent institutions. The incident that took place in the night shelter (shelter code 147) of Coolie Camp must be immediately investigated and necessary corrective action must be taken by identifying the reasons, security lapses and responsible persons. Executive Director of the organization, Sunil Kumar Alediya said that the repeated fatal accidents in the shelters built for the safety of homeless persons are extremely worrying. The government is requested to act quickly and efficiently so that such incidents can be prevented from recurring in the future. Incidents of fire in night shelters December 01, 2025: A fire broke out in the night shelter located at Coolie Camp, Vasant Vihar, due to which 20-year-old Arjun and 42-year-old Santosh died due to scalding. March 3, 2018: A youth died in a fire caused by a short circuit at a makeshift shelter in Delhi. November 19, 2011: A fire broke out at a tent shelter near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, killing a nine-year-old girl and destroying property of several homeless families.