India, May 4 -- A late-night fire at a multi-storied residential building in the Capital on Sunday claimed nine lives, including the life of a one-and-a-half-year-old. The fire, which was reported at 3.48 am on Sunday, took over four hours to fully douse. According to authorities, locked terrace access, iron grilles-sealed balconies, and a single entry-exit staircase left residents with no escape route as flames engulfed the second, the third and the fourth floor of the building.

"On receipt of the information, police staff, along with the SHO, Vivek Vihar, and ACP, Vivek Vihar, immediately proceeded to the spot. The fire brigade and crime team also reached the spot at premises B-13, Vivek Vihar Phase-I," Deputy Commissioner of Police, E...