New Delhi: At least nine people have died after a massive fire broke out in a four-storey residential building in the Vivek Vihar area of Shahdara, Delhi, in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

According to officials, a PCR call regarding the blaze was received at around 3:48 am at Vivek Vihar Police Station, following which police teams and senior officers rushed to the site in Vivek Vihar Phase-I. Fire services later confirmed that the blaze was brought under control, issuing a “STOP” message at around 8:00 am.

The Delhi Fire Service said the fire involved domestic items in at least six flats across multiple floors. During firefighting and rescue operations, nine charred bodies were recovered from different parts of the building—one from the first floor, five from the second floor, and three from a locked staircase. The bodies were later handed over to police.

Officials said the fire spread across flats on the second, third and fourth floors. Around 10 to 15 residents were rescued, of whom two sustained minor injuries and were shifted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital for treatment.

A total of 12 fire tenders, along with DDMA personnel, traffic police, and local police teams, were deployed at the scene.

In a statement, Delhi Police said, “Preliminary enquiry suggests that nine persons have lost their lives in the fire incident. The blaze affected flats on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors. Around 10–15 persons were rescued, and two injured individuals were shifted to hospital.”

Local Municipal Councillor Pankaj Luthra said rescue and search operations are still ongoing, adding that identification of the deceased has not yet been confirmed and will require DNA testing.

Speaking to ANI, Luthra said victims were found on multiple floors, including five bodies on the back side of the second floor and three on the top floor. “Identification is currently not possible. We are still carrying out checks, but only DNA testing will confirm identities,” he said, adding that the cause of the fire has not yet been officially established, though some locals suspect a short circuit.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara), Rajendra Prasad Meena, said fire tenders reached the spot shortly after the call and managed to bring the blaze under control. He confirmed that search operations are continuing to ensure no one remains trapped.

Further details are awaited as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.