The blaze reportedly started on the second floor around 4 am and quickly spread to the third and fourth floors, trapping residents inside as they slept.

A total of 14 fire tenders rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations.

Officials said more than a dozen people were rescued from the building, while the injured were taken to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital for treatment.

According to police, it took nearly two hours to bring the fire under control, with flames finally doused around 6 am.

Visuals from the scene showed charred interiors and smoke billowing from the top floor.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajendra Prasad Meena said search operations were carried out after the fire was controlled, and all recovered bodies were handed over to the crime team.

AC blast triggered fire?

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, but local residents claimed an air-conditioner explosion may have sparked the blaze.

“A blast in the AC triggered the fire... Around 12-15 were rescued. However, 4-5 people are still missing,” one resident told ANI.

Another resident said two families may still have been trapped during the rescue operation, while firefighters evacuated nearly 20 people through balconies.

Prime area hit by tragedy

Vivek Vihar is considered one of East Delhi’s prominent residential localities, making the tragedy even more shocking for locals.