NEW DELHI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- At least nine persons, including a child and four women, were killed and nearly 20 others injured early Sunday morning in a massive fire which broke out inside a multi-story house in Delhi after a powerful blast in the air-conditioner, the Delhi Police confirmed.

The incident occurred in the Vivek Vihar area of East Delhi when the victims were asleep. The fire engulfed the whole house within a few minutes, said the police.

All nine bodies had been recovered from different parts of the ill-fated house. Those injured were admitted to a local hospital.

A total of 14 fire tenders were rushed to douse the fire. Efforts were made to ascertain the cause of the blast in the air-conditioner. ■