A devastating fire ripped through a residential building in East Delhi on the intervening night of Saturday-Sunday, killing nine people and leaving several others injured, officials said. According to officials, the blaze erupted in Phase I of Vivek Vihar, where a four-storey building was gutted, prompting an immediate rescue operation.

DFS receives call at 3:48 AM

Officials aware of the incident said that the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received a distress call at around 3:48 am on Sunday, following which the fire safety personnel rushed to the scene. Fire tenders, cops and disaster response teams were mobilised to the site as the flames tore through the building.

The fire, as per eyewitnesses, quickly spread through the upper floors, particularly up to the second, third and fourth levels, owing to which the residents were trapped inside their homes. The escape turned impossible for the house occupants as thick plumes of smoke filled corridors and stairwells.

15 individuals rescued

The emergency responders raced against time to pull survivors from the burning structure. A senior police official said that as many as 15 people were rescued during the operation. Among them, two persons sustained minor burns, who were rushed to the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital for treatment.

Flames contained after hours-long battle

Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before it was finally contained. Officials who worked out the operation said it was a complex one, given the rapid spread of fire and the challenges posed by heavy smoke, coupled with limited access within the building. Authorities said that the identities of the ones who died are yet to be ascertained. Some bodies, as per officials, have been charred beyond recognition.

Probe underway

The police said they have launched a probe to ascertain the cause behind the blaze, while legal proceedings are being initiated. Officials said further details would emerge in the incident once a thorough examination of the site is conducted.