Charred remains, gutted rooms, and harrowing accounts of residents struggling to escape marked the aftermath of a devastating fire that tore through afour-storey residential buildingin Vivek Vihar in the early hours of Sunday, leaving at least nine people dead, including an infant, and several others injured. The blaze, which spread rapidly across multiple floors, turned the building into a death trap as many residents were caught off guard while asleep.

However, investigators, through their initial findings, spotted issues that could have led to the occupants getting trapped in the building and not being able to escape at the right moment.

Fire breaks out in residential building in east Delhi.

Also Read |Charred Bodies On Staircase, Gutted House: Video Reveals Devastation in Delhi Building Fire

The building had only one staircase, located at the centre, which quickly became congested as residents attempted to flee. The presence of multiple victims on the staircase suggests that it turned into a choke point during the evacuation.

Compounding the crisis, nets installed across balconies delayed rescue efforts. Fire personnel had difficulty accessing trapped residents from outside, slowing down evacuation at a time when every second mattered. The fire itself reportedly started at the rear end of the building, further cutting off escape routes and trapping residents inside.

Officials said the fire engulfed flats on the second, third and fourth floors, rapidly consuming interiors. Visuals from the scene showed extensive destruction, with residents stating that “everything was gutted” in the inferno.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as the fire spread quickly in the pre-dawn hours.

Police said a PCR call was received at around 03:48 am, after which teams rushed to the spot along with fire tenders and disaster response units. Around 10 to 15 people were rescued during the operation, while two injured were shifted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

Firefighters also faced significant challenges entering parts of the building due to dense smoke and intense flames. Search and cooling operations are still underway as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the blaze and assess whether more people remain unaccounted for.

Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now