Suspected AC blast fire kills 9 in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar, toddler among dead

Nine people from two Jain families, including a 1.5-year-old toddler, died after a fire tore through a four-storey residential building at B-13, Vivek Vihar Phase-I in east Delhi early today. Delhi Fire Services received the first distress call at 3:47 am.

Delhi Police logged a PCR call a minute later, at 3:48 am. The blaze engulfed flats on the second, third and fourth floors within minutes, trapping residents asleep inside.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and Shahdara MLA Sanjay Goel said preliminary findings point to an air-conditioner short circuit. A delivery agent told police he saw sparks shooting from an external AC outdoor unit moments before flames spread up the facade.

Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority deployed 14 fire tenders, five ladders, cutting tools and a turntable ladder. Firefighters rescued 10 to 15 residents. Two suffered minor injuries and were taken to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

The fire was brought under control by 6:25 am and fully doused after 8 am. Naveen Jain, 48, sustained roughly 30 percent burns. Several bodies were charred beyond recognition, and forensic teams have begun DNA sampling for identification.

*Shikha Jain’s age is reported as 40 in some sources and 45 in others; pending official confirmation.

Rescue efforts hit structural roadblocks. The building had a single central staircase, no emergency exit, heavy iron grills on rear windows and a locked terrace door. Internal corridors filled with thick smoke within minutes, cutting off the only escape route.

The Delhi government stands firmly with the affected families. Senior officials from local administration, DDMA, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Police are engaged in relief and rescue operations.

Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister · Statement · 3 May 2026

Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited officials handling the response. Both expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

Single central staircase, no emergency exit. Iron grills on rear windows blocked window rescue. Locked terrace door cut off roof escape. Suspected AC outdoor unit sparks ignited cladding before residents woke.[/dp-info>

Delhi Police and fire officials are awaiting forensic and electrical inspection reports to confirm the ignition source. A formal cause-of-fire report from Delhi Fire Services is expected within 72 hours, by 6 May.