New Delhi: A devastating fire ripped through a residential building in east Delhi’s Vivek Vihar in the early hours of Sunday, May 3, leaving nine people from two families, including a toddler, dead, with an air-conditioner blast suspected to have triggered the blaze, officials said.
The fire broke out around 3:50 am in a four-storey building in Vivek Vihar Phase-I and rapidly spread from the rear portion, engulfing flats from the first to the fourth floors and trapping residents inside as thick smoke filled the structure.
A preliminary inquiry suggests that the fire may have originated due to an air-conditioner blast on a lower floor, with strong winds intensifying the flames, a senior police officer said.
The building’s design and safety features appear to have worsened the tragedy. It had a single central staircase serving as the only entry and exit, while the terrace door was locked, preventing escape.
Thick iron grills and enclosed balconies at the rear, along with a narrow lane lined with adjoining structures and overhead wires, further hampered evacuation and rescue efforts.
“With the electricity supply disrupted, the centrally-locked doors could not be opened easily and the elevator became non-functional. We had to cut through iron grills to reach those trapped,” a firefighter said, adding that ladders and a turntable ladder vehicle were used to rescue around 15 people.
Twelve fire tenders, along with teams from the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), police and volunteers, were pressed into service. The blaze was brought under control after several hours.
According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), nine charred bodies were found from different parts of the building, including from flats and the staircase leading to the locked terrace.
In a statement, the hospital said, “On receipt of information regarding the fire incident at Vivek Vihar, the hospital immediately activated its Disaster Management Protocol (Code Red) in anticipation of casualties.”
It added that all the departments concerned were alerted and senior officers of both clinical departments and the administration promptly mobilised to ensure full preparedness for receiving patients.
“Three persons with burn injuries reported to the hospital at approximately 5 am. One was admitted for further management, while two were treated in the Emergency department,” the hospital said.
A case has been registered under section 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Vivek Vihar police station and a probe is on to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and examine possible lapses.
The incident comes amid a sharp rise in fire-related emergencies in the national capital. According to official data, the DFS has attended 7,801 fire calls this year till April 27, nearly 20 per cent higher than the 6,511 cases reported in the same period last year.
April alone accounted for more than 2,300 incidents, a steep 54-per cent rise compared to March, reflecting a surge as temperatures climbed.
Officials said increased use of air-conditioners and electrical appliances, coupled with dry weather conditions, has contributed to the growing number of fires.
Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta condoled the loss of lives and said relief and medical assistance were being provided.
Several political leaders also visited the site and met the bereaved families.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, along with Union minister of state Harsh Malhotra, local MLA Sanjay Goel, Councillor Pankaj Luthra and BJP Shahdara district president Deepak Gaba, met the bereaved families around 10 am and conveyed condolences to them on behalf of the ruling party.
