Delhi building fire: 1-year-old among 9 killed in a suspected AC blast

The incident claimed the lives of 9 people, including a 1-year-old; some others managed to escape the fire.

In a shocking incident in the early hours of Sunday, a massive fire broke out in the VivekVihar building in Delhi, which claimed the lives of 9 individuals, including a 1-year-old. Iron grills on one side and a terrace lock left many residents in the building without an escape route.

Hindrances that led to the death of nine people in the Delhi building fire incident.

One of the major hindrances to evacuating many residents in the tragic fire at the VivekVihar building in Delhi on Sunday was the building’s floor plan. In the basement plus four-storey building, there is only one staircase route and no emergency exit. The two flats on each floor are arranged so that one faces the front of the building and the other faces the rear. As fire engulfed the rear side of the building, it became impossible for residents to jump from the back due to the grills. The rear flat’s front opening became difficult to access because the fire had already spread there. However, a few residents managed to brave the part and rushed to the terrace. The door was locked, leaving no possible evacuation route.

Many suffocated to death due to rising heat and smoke.

A visit to the site by a leading portal found that the fire, which broke out around 3.30 am on Sunday when most residents were asleep, had spread to the adjacent building. This was made easier by the lack of a gap between the two buildings. Families described the horror, recalling loud cries for help from the people and children trapped inside their homes. Eyewitnesses said that two children also tried to jump from the front of the building. A Delhi Fire Services officer told the portal that among the 9 people from two families, one was a toddler, saying, “One body was recovered from the first floor, five from the second floor and three from the staircase, which was found locked.”

Police said that efforts are underway to determine the cause of the fire. A resident named Rohit told ANI that a blast in an air-conditioner led to the horrific incident.