The incident took place in Kabir Nagar area of north-east Delhi.

Fire officials said neighbours informed them about the incident at 5.50 am. Three fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot, but by the time the fire was brought under control the entire structure had burnt out, claiming five lives.

The deceased have been identified as Mohammed Raftar Hussain (68), his wife Zenul (60), their granddaughter-in-law Mehnaz (21) and her children Zubeda (7) and Mushtaq (1). Hussain’s sons, Ishrar (45) and Raes, and grandson Ashfaq (23) survived the fire with minor injuries.

“Ashfaq managed to jump out of the window, while his father Ishrar and uncle Raes came out through the smoke,” an officer said. Police said Ashfaq managed to bring out his daughter, Zubeda, but she was dead by then, said police.

According to the police, the family ran a small textile unit, which manufactured jeans, on the ground floor. Police officers said there were several overhead cables hanging loose in the area.

“A spark from the cables must have fallen on a pile of clothes which caused the blaze. The fire spread to other clothes resulting a thick, black smoke. When we arrived, the entire place was up in flames, with smoke making its way to the room on the first floor where the family lived,” an officer said.

Police said the family had come to Delhi from Bidayu in Uttar Pradesh a few years ago and opened this factory.