4 killed, 5 injured in apartment fire in southern India

At least four people, including two children, were killed and five others sustained injuries in a fire at a residential complex in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai Monday, a senior police official said.

Some 15 vehicles in the parking lot of the apartment complex have also been gutted in the blaze, the official said.

"The fire broke out on the ground floor of the highrise building in Vadapalani area of Chennai in the morning. Soon it engulfed the adjacent parking lot and a ground floor apartment, killing four people in the house," he said, on condition of anonymity.

The injured with breathing problems have been admitted to a local hospital, where the condition of a few are said to be serious, the official said, adding that some 10 fire engines were pressed into service to douse the flames.

Police suspect short-circuit to be the reason for devastating fire.

District collector Anbuselvan told the media that the four died due to asphyxiation as per the preliminary finding by doctors. "However, a probe has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the incident," he added.

Fires in high-rise buildings are fairly common in Indian cities. Electrical short circuits have been responsible for most of these fires. Endit