A devastating fire in southwest Delhi’s Palam area claimed seven lives from a single family, including three children, on Wednesday morning.
Two others sustained injuries after jumping from the building to escape the flames.
The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received a call around 7 am and rushed 30 fire tenders to the site near Palam Metro Station. Officials said the blaze engulfed the second and third floors of the five-storey building, which housed residential units, while the lower floors were used for storing clothes and cosmetics.
Thick black smoke billowed from the structure as firefighters battled the flames and carried out rescue operations in the congested locality. Seven people were pulled out and taken to the hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Two survivors remain under treatment.
According to DFS, the building had a basement and a temporary tin shed on the roof. Firefighters navigated through smoke-filled interiors to ensure no one remained trapped. Cooling operations continued through the day.
Police cordoned off the area to facilitate rescue work. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
