New Delhi, 03 May (H.S.): A fire broke out in a four-storey residential building in the national capital Delhi's Vivek Vihar in the early hours of today. Nine people died in the incident. Several others were safely rescued. Two individuals sustained minor burns and have been admitted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

According to police, information about the fire was received by Vivek Vihar police station via a PCR call around 3:48 a.m.

Police, fire department, and other teams rushed immediately to the scene (House No. B-13, Vivek Vihar Phase-1). High flames were rising from the second, third, and fourth floors. Firefighters and police conducted a joint relief and rescue operation, safely evacuating about 10-15 people trapped in the blaze.

The process of identifying the deceased is ongoing.

Twelve fire tenders were pressed into service to bring the fire under control, a task that took several hours. Police and fire department teams are investigating the causes of the fire. Sources indicate that the blaze may have been triggered by an explosion in an air conditioner.

Police have registered a case and begun an investigation. Officials stated that the building's safety arrangements, fire safety measures, and construction standards will also be probed.

Fire department spokesperson A.K. Malik stated that the death toll in the incident has risen to nine. The fire spread through household items in six flats of the building. During the relief and rescue operation, nine charred bodies were recovered from various floors. All the bodies have been handed over to the Delhi Police crime team. Preliminary information suggests the fire affected six flats in the building. One body was recovered from the first floor, five from the second floor, and three from a locked mumty (small cabin) above the stairs.

According to officials, the mumty was locked. It is suspected that some people had rushed there to escape the smoke and fire but could not get out.

The fire department has stated that the causes of the fire are under investigation. Initial probe is focusing on short circuit and other possible reasons. The fire department will also check whether the building had adequate fire safety arrangements and if there was any negligence in safety standards. Officials said the exact causes of the fire will be revealed after the investigation is complete.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar