Mumbai/Thiruvananthapuram: Four people, including three of a Malayali family, died and ten others were injured after a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, early Tuesday. The deceased are Vedika Sundar Balakrishnan, her parents Sundar Balakrishnan (44) and Pooja Rajan (39), natives of Chirayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram and Kamala Hiralal Jain (84) from Mumbai.

The blaze erupted around 12.40 am in the B Wing of Raheja Residency, MG Complex, Sector 17. Preliminary reports suggest a short circuit triggered the fire, which started on the 10th floor and spread to the 11th and 12th floors. The fire was brought under control by 4 am, and the injured were admitted to nearby hospitals.

Sudheesh P, a friend of Sundar and a member of the Foundation of All Internal Malayalee Association, Maharashtra (FAIMA), said that Sundar and his family were trapped inside the flat when the fire broke out. "We have been told that an AC burst following a short circuit caused the fire. We are not sure about where the fire originated. Sundar and his family may have fallen unconscious due to the smoke. Other flat residents managed to get out. One woman who died was disabled," he told Onmanorama.

The bodies of Sundar, Vedika and Pooja will be handed over to relatives after the autopsy at the Municipality hospital, Vashi. Sundar, who used to work as a software developer, was planning to launch a new business, according to Sudheesh. The bodies will be brought to the apartment complex, Narmada CHS, Vashi, where Pooja's father, Rajan, resides, at 2 pm. The bodies were cremated at Turbhe, Navi Mumbai, at 3 pm.