Vivek Vihar fire tragedy: Residents push for urgent safety overhaul
In the aftermath of a devastating fire that killed nine people in east Delhi’s Vivek Vihar, locals have begun mobilising to address glaring safety lapses, deciding to hold meetings every 15 days to discuss fire preparedness and structural changes in residential buildings.
On May 3, a fire broke at a four-storey building in Vivek Vihar Phase-I, rapidly spreading from the rear portion and engulfing flats from the first to the fourth floors. Nine people from two families, including a toddler, died while several others were rescued.
Initial investigation suggested an air-conditioner blast on a lower floor triggered the blaze, which intensified due to strong winds.
The building’s design -- including a single central staircase, locked terrace access, and iron grills at the rear -- significantly hampered escape and rescue efforts.
Against this backdrop, residents in nearby blocks and localities have started discussions on improving safety mechanisms.
“We have decided that meetings will be conducted every 15 days and will discuss several ways out during any fire-related incidents,” a local resident, Rakesh Singh, said. He added that the meetings would also focus on the risks posed by electronic door locking systems, which can fail during emergencies.
“Residents will also discuss electronic door locking systems, as such doors do not open in emergency situations. We got to know that some of the family members were not able to come out of the building due to the electronic locking system, and they charred to death,” he said.
Another resident, Shiv Sharma, who owns two flats on the second floor of a building in B-Block located around 100 metres from the fire site, highlighted a long-standing but unwritten practice that may have contributed to the fatalities.
“It is an unsaid rule that those who stay in top flats can only use the rooftop, and they even lock the rooftop. Such was the case in the fire incident, as due to the lock, many people were unable to reach the rooftop and died there,” he said.
He stressed that keeping terrace access open for all during emergencies could save lives. “Had it not been locked, more lives could have been saved. During the meetings, we will raise this issue and ensure that rooftops are not locked so that people can reach there in emergency conditions,” Sharma added.
Police, Forensic Experts Reconstruct Fatal Sequence of Events
New Delhi: Police, forensic experts and authorities are reconstructing the sequence of events behind the devastating May 3 blaze in Vivek Vihar Phase-I that claimed nine lives, police sources said on Tuesday.
Investigators revisited the gutted site, collected fresh evidence and recorded residents’ statements and first responders to determine the exact time the fire broke out and the speed of the subsequent emergency response.
The inferno had ripped through a four-storey residential building, reportedly originating from the rear portion before rapidly spreading upwards and engulfing flats from the first to the fourth floors.
Nine people belonging to two families, including a toddler, lost their lives, while several others were rescued amid chaotic scenes.
“Multiple facts are being examined. We are verifying the exact time of the fire, the first distress calls and the response time of emergency services. CCTV footage is also being analysed to determine the origin and progression of the blaze,” the source said.
He said footage from nearby buildings is being scanned to corroborate witness accounts and identify the initial point of ignition, while technical teams are assessing possible causes.
On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the spot and asked the police officers for a fair probe. Initial findings suggest the blaze may have been triggered by an air-conditioner explosion in a first-floor flat.
Investigators said strong winds may have intensified the fire while most residents were asleep, delaying evacuation.
Police have also flagged structural issues, including a single central staircase, locked terrace access and iron grilles at the rear, which hindered escape and rescue efforts.
Several victims were found near staircases and upper floors, indicating they were trapped while trying to flee.
