New Delhi: Two people were killed after a massive fire broke out in a night shelter in the early hours of Monday in southwest Delhi’s Vasant Vihar, an official of the Delhi Fire Services said.

The deceased have been identified as Arjun (18) and Vikas (42), he said, adding that a call regarding the fire was received at 3.28 am in a night shelter in Coolie Camp in Vasant Vihar.

“We rushed four fire tenders to the spot, and the two men were shifted to the hospital where they were declared dead,” the officer said.

The night shelter is operated by SPYM NGO, the police said in a statement, adding seven people were residing there at the time of the incident.

According to a senior police officer, the Vasant Vihar police station received a PCR call regarding a fire at about 3.15 am. “A team rushed to the scene, where fire brigade personnel were already engaged in dousing the flames. Five people were rescued safely, while Arjun and Vikas succumbed to their injuries,” the officer said.

Police said that both bodies were retrieved in a charred condition. Subsequently, a case was registered at the Vasant Vihar police station under Sections 287 and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the cause of the fire is being probed.

Locals who witnessed the tragedy said the fire spread rapidly, leaving residents in the temporary shelter with little time to escape.

“I was asleep when, around 3 am, a loud blast-like sound woke me up,” said Amarjeet, who lives close to the shelter. He said when he stepped out, he saw a massive fire. Some people managed to run outside, while others were crying for help. “I tried to save whoever I could reach,” he said.

He noted that the fire escalated quickly, and chaos ensued in the narrow lanes as residents attempted to pull people to safety.

Viranshu Kumar, another resident of the shelter, sensed danger upon smelling something burning. “I think it was an electrical wire. The smell immediately alarmed me. When I woke up, I heard crackling sounds, and by then, the flames had already engulfed the top of the tent. There was smoke everywhere. I called out to wake others and urged them to run. It spread too fast for us to save everyone,” he said, adding that he believed the fire may have started due to an electrical spark.

Sonu, another resident who rushed to the spot, said they called the police around 2.45 am. “We all tried to extinguish the fire with whatever we had. By the time the fire services arrived, two lives were already gone. Their bodies were charred. One of them was a teenager,” he said, his voice breaking.

Locals also claimed that the layout of the makeshift shelter contributed to the deaths.

Munna Lal, the president of the Coolie Camp area, said a motorcycle parked inside the Rain Basera blocked the only exit. “A bike was parked right where people were sleeping, and when the fire reached its petrol tank, it caused a blast,” he said.

He recalled that panic took over as people scattered. “That bike should never have been there. If it hadn’t been there, maybe the two men could have escaped on time. The caretaker has been working there for six years, and yet, he parked his vehicle right in front of the only entry and exit point,” Munna said, alleging further that the caretaker managed to escape but did not alert others in time.

Police said they were looking at all possible angles, including electrical malfunction, negligence and structural safety issues. Officers said forensic experts collected samples from the debris, and the exact trigger of the fire would be known only after a detailed investigation.

Residents urged the government to review fire safety standards in night shelters across the city, especially those constructed from temporary materials such as plastic sheets and tarpaulin.