Nine people lost their lives and several others were seriously injured after a fire erupted in a multi-storey residential building near Shri Ram Chowk, close to the Palam Metro station in southwest Delhi on Wednesday morning, according to officials from the Delhi Police and Delhi Fire Services.
Around 30 fire engines were deployed to the site to control the flames and conduct rescue operations. Officials from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) stated that the full extent of the damage and casualties would only be known once the firefighting and rescue work is complete.
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Nine members of a family lost their lives in a fire that erupted in a multi-storey residential building near Shri Ram Chowk, close to Palam Metro station in southwest Delhi on Wednesday morning.
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Around 30 fire tenders were rushed to the site to control the blaze and carry out rescue operations.
The victims include the family patriarch Rajendra Kashyap’s wife Laado, their first and third sons Kamal and Parvesh, and their daughter Himanshi; Kamal’s wife Ashu and their three daughters; and the wife and daughter of their fourth son Anil, Deepika.
Three family members—Anil (32), the fifth son Sachin (29), and two-year-old Mitali—managed to escape by jumping from the building but sustained injuries.
The five-storey building housed a cloth and cosmetics showroom on the ground and first floors, while the Kashyap family resided on the second and third floors.
A fire control room official said they received a call at approximately 7am about a blaze in a building located in Gali Number-2 at Shri Ram Chowk near the Palam Metro station.
“Following the call, 30 fire engines were immediately sent to the location. Our teams are working to rescue those trapped,” the official added.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Amit Goel said that nearly a dozen people were trapped inside the building.
The firefighting operation is still on. We are monitoring the situation. Our police personnel are also assisting the firefighters,” said DCP Goel.
At least 18 people were trapped in a residential building after a fire broke out in the morning. Some residents jumped from upper floors to escape, while others remained trapped due to heavy flames and smoke.
The blaze started in a four-storey building with a cosmetics shop on the ground floor and quickly spread, blocking the only exit. Firefighters and police rushed to the congested area, fearing people were still trapped inside.
Delhi's LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu expressed grief over the loss of lives in this incident. He shared a post on X, he said, "Deeply distressed by the fire incident in a residential building near Palam Metro. My thoughts are with those affected by this tragic loss. Rescue and firefighting operations are being closely monitored, with all necessary support being extended."