At least nine people were killed after a fire broke out in a residential building in east Delhi's Vivek Vihar early Sunday, officials said.

The incident was reported around 3.48 am at a four-storey building in Vivek Vihar Phase-I, following which police, fire and disaster management teams rushed to the spot.

According to the police, the blaze engulfed flats on the second, third and fourth floors of the building, prompting a large-scale rescue operation.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

"Around 10 to 15 people were rescued from the premises during the firefighting operation. Two of them, who sustained minor injuries, were shifted to the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital," a senior police officer said.

A fire official said, “It’s a residential building with a single staircase. The terrace premises were also locked... We have nine casualties and have rescued around 15 people. Out of them, one has got 30 per cent burn injuries, and as per the latest information, he is admitted to GTB hospital.”

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but a resident claimed an AC blast may have triggered the blaze. "A blast in the AC triggered the fire... Around 12-15 were rescued. However, 4-5 people are still missing," he told news agency ANI.

Another resident said that two families are still stranded in the building.

"The fire brigade rescued around 20 people through the balcony, but I think some people from the backside flats were still able to come outside. I think 1 or 2 families are still under the building," he said.

A total of 12 fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames, while teams from the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), traffic police and local police assisted in the rescue and evacuation efforts.

Those found dead on the second floor have been identified as Arvind Jain (60), his wife Anita Jain (58), son Nishant Jain (35), daughter-in-law Anchal Jain (33) and grandchild Akash Jain.

On the third floor, three members of a family were found dead. They were identified as Nitin Jain (50), wife Shailey Jain (48) and son Samyak Jain (25).

On the first floor a woman identified as Shikha Jain (45) was found dead while her husband Naveen Jain (48) sustained injuries.

Police said the fire was brought under control after several hours. Efforts are underway to determine the cause of the fire, police said.

Further investigation and proceedings are underway.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in a fire incident in Delhi’s Shahdara district, calling it “extremely distressing.” He conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

The Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased, and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

Delhi LG, CM condole loss of lives

Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday condoled the loss of lives in the fire tragedy and said immediate medical assistance and relief are being provided to the affected people.

"Deeply saddened by the tragic fire incident in Vivek Vihar Phase-I. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this devastating tragedy," Sandhu said in a post on X.

"I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and strength for the bereaved families during this difficult time," he said.

The LG said the authorities have been directed to ensure that all necessary medical assistance is provided to the injured, along with immediate relief and support to those affected.

Delhi Fire Service personnel and emergency teams are on the ground, working tirelessly to manage the situation, he said.

In a post on X, Chief Minister Gupta said the situation is being constantly monitored. The incident was "extremely" tragic and distressed her a lot, she said.

She said the injured are being treated in a nearby hospital and prayed for their speedy recovery. She also extended her condolences to the bereaved families.

Gupta said the local administration, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, the Delhi Fire Service, the Delhi Police and top officials are carrying out rescue and relief measures.

The situation is being constantly monitored and local councillors and MLAs of the BJP have reached the spot. The Delhi government stands firmly with the affected families in every situation, the chief minister said.