Massive Fire Guts Gurugram Banquet Hall

New Delhi, February 13, 2026: A massive fire broke out in the early hours of Friday, February 13, 2026, at a prominent banquet hall on Sheetla Mata Road, leaving the structure completely gutted. The blaze, which erupted at Prakash Vatika, sent thick plumes of black smoke into the sky, visible from several kilometers away, and triggered panic among residents in the nearby Sector 5 area.

Early Morning Chaos and Emergency Response

The fire department received an emergency call at approximately 3:15 AM. Given the intensity of the flames, more than half a dozen fire tenders were immediately dispatched from the Bhim Nagar, Sector 29, and Udyog Vihar fire stations.

Firefighters battled the inferno for nearly four hours, finally bringing the situation under control around 7:00 AM. Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions during the height of the fire, which officials believe were caused by the bursting of air conditioning compressors or commercial gas cylinders stored on the premises.

Extent of Damage

While an official assessment is still underway, preliminary reports suggest that property and decorative materials worth lakhs of rupees have been destroyed. The hall was reportedly fully prepared for the ongoing wedding season, featuring extensive:

• Temporary cloth tents and pandals.
• Highly flammable thermocol decorations.
• Intricate plastic lighting installations.
• Premium furniture and catering equipment.

“The banquet hall was largely made of temporary structures and decorative fabrics, which acted as fuel, allowing the fire to spread within minutes,” said a senior fire official at the scene.

Casualties and Safety

Fortunately, the wedding ceremonies scheduled for the previous evening had concluded, and most guests and staff had vacated the premises by 2:30 AM. No casualties or injuries have been reported. Following the cooling operations, Civil Defense teams conducted a thorough search of the debris to ensure no one was trapped inside.

Probable Cause

While the exact cause is still being investigated by the Gurugram Fire Department and local police, a short circuit in the main electrical panel is suspected to be the primary trigger.

The incident has once again raised concerns regarding fire safety compliance in temporary structures used for wedding celebrations. Authorities have cordoned off the area, and Sector 5 police have initiated a probe to determine if the venue had a valid Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) and adequate firefighting equipment.