Delhi Vivek Vihar Fire: 9 Dead in Devastating Apartment Blaze; AC Explosion Suspected.

Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: At least nine people have died and four others sustained injuries in a horrific fire that broke out early Sunday morning at a four-story residential building in Delhi's Vivek Vihar area. Preliminary assessments suggest that the fire was triggered by an explosion involving an air conditioner (AC) unit. Authorities received the report of the blaze at 3:47 AM on Sunday. Upon receiving the alert, police and fire personnel swiftly rushed to the scene with 14 fire tenders and immediately commenced operations to bring the fire under control.

Of the nine deceased, the bodies of five victims were recovered from the second floor of the building. Additionally, the bodies of three victims were found on the staircase, while that of one other victim was recovered from the first floor. However, rescue operations remain ongoing, and fears have been expressed that the death toll could rise further.

According to police reports, the fire spread rapidly to the apartments located on the second, third, and fourth floors of the building. This necessitated a large-scale rescue operation, during which more than a dozen people were successfully evacuated to safety.

The exact cause of this tragic fire has not yet been officially confirmed, and authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the matter. A police official stated, "Approximately 10 to 15 people were rescued from the scene during the firefighting operation." He further added, "Two of them sustained minor injuries and have been taken to a hospital for medical treatment."