6 days ago
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Former bureaucrat and the archetypal president of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Dhanendra Kumar, died aft a fire, suspected to person been triggered by a blast successful an air-conditioning unit, ripped done his residence successful Delhi's Hauz Khas, constabulary said connected Thursday (May 28, 2026). His lad was injured successful the incidental and is undergoing treatment.
Mr. Kumar (80), a 1968-batch IAS serviceman of the Haryana cadre, besides represented India astatine the World Bank arsenic an Executive Director. According to Delhi Fire Services officials, a telephone regarding the blaze astatine a location successful Hauz Khas Enclave was received astatine 11.24 p.m. connected Wednesday (May 27, 2026), pursuing which 2 occurrence tenders, including a h2o bowser, were rushed to the spot.
The fire, which was brought nether power astir 12.20 a.m., engulfed home articles connected the crushed level and woody windows connected the archetypal level of the ground-plus-two-storey building, officials said. Before occurrence unit reached the spot, 2 injured radical had already been shifted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre by Police Control Room (PCR) unit and members of the public.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said that Mr. Kumar succumbed to fume inhalation during treatment. The constabulary said Mr. Kumar’s lad sustained injuries successful the occurrence and remains nether treatment. His information is stated to beryllium retired of danger.
Preliminary enquiry suggested the blaze whitethorn person been caused by a blast successful the indoor portion of an air-conditioner installed wrong the house, officials said. At the clip of the incident, 5 people, including household members and home staff, were contiguous wrong the residence.
A transgression squad inspected the spot, portion an electrical inspection is underway to ascertain the nonstop origin of the fire. Statements of eyewitnesses person been recorded, and nary foul play is suspected truthful far, constabulary said.
Mr. Kumar held respective cardinal administrative positions during his career, including Chairman and Managing Director of the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) and Principal Secretary to the Haryana Chief Minister. Apart from his administrative career, Mr. Kumar was known arsenic an writer and nationalist argumentation expert. Further probe into the substance is underway.
