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New Delhi: A deadly blaze ripped through a four-storey building in Vivek Vihar area of Shahdara during the early hours of Sunday, leaving at least nine people dead and triggering a massive emergency response, Delhi Police said.

Officials confirmed that the charred remains of the victims were recovered from various floors after a massive rescue operation that lasted for several hours.

Although 12 to 15 residents were pulled to safety, search teams are continuing  to comb through the building, which saw its second floor nearly destroyed by flames and authorities are investigating the cause of the inferno.

Blaze erupted late night

Reportedly, the blaze erupted in a building located in Vivek Vihar Phase-I, affecting flats on the second, third and fourth floors. The fire department received the information about the blaze at around 3:47 am on Sunday.

Following the fire alarm, local police, fire departments, and disaster management units mobilized instantly. These teams executed a rapid emergency response to evacuate and assist the numerous residents who were caught inside the structure when the blaze began.

During the operation, nine charred bodies were recovered from different floors, one from the first floor, five from the second floor and three from a locked staircase. The bodies were handed over to the Delhi Police team.

Emergency personnel successfully evacuated between 10 and 15 residents during the intervention. Among those saved, at least two individuals suffered minor injuries and were transported to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital for medical care. While the blaze has since been contained, the precise cause of the fire remains under investigation.

According to Rajendra Prasad Meena, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for the Shahdara District, the fatalities have been confirmed as rescue teams continue their work at the site.

"Early in the morning, we got a call about a fire. Fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control. 3-4 bodies have been recovered from here. We're still searching. We got the call at around 4 AM," Meena further said.

"During preliminary enquiry, it has been found that nine persons have lost their lives in the said fire incident. Fire was found in the flats situated on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors. During rescue and fire extinguishing operations, 10/15 persons were rescued from the building, out of whom two persons, having sustained minor injuries, were shifted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital for medical treatment. 12 fire tenders were at the spot with DDMA staff, traffic officials, and local police," as per Delhi Police.
 

AC Blast suspected

The fire reportedly started at approximately 3:13 AM, quickly spreading through the floors of the structure.

"A blast in the AC triggered the fire," said Rohit, a resident of the building. "The fire tenders arrived at around 3:35 AM. Efforts are still being made to extinguish the flames."

A total of 12 fire tenders were deployed to douse the flames, with support from DDMA personnel, traffic police and local authorities. Furthermore, the identities of the deceased are yet to be established.

Further details regarding casualties or the extent of the property damage are currently awaited as the rescue operation continues.