India, May 3 -- At least nine people, including a 1.5-year-old toddler, lost their lives after a massive fire erupted in a residential building in east Delhi's Vivek Vihar early on Sunday morning, with nearly 20 people rescued by firefighters.

Delhi Fire Services officials said they received a call about the fire at 3:47am and rushed multiple teams to the spot. A total of 14 fire tenders were a part of the rescue efforts by 5am.

According to officials, the fire first caught onto household items and quickly spread to at least six flats.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva spoke to reporters, saying the fire allegedly started due to sparks in the AC unit.

"The fire services received the first call at 3:45am, and the first fire brigade...