NEW DELHI: At least nine people, including three children, lost their lives after a massive fire broke out in a residential building in southwest Delhi’s Palam area on Wednesday morning.

Several others are reported to have sustained injuries, with rescue operations ongoing.Chief minister Rekha Gupta said a magisterial inquiry was ordered into the incident.Gupta, in a post on X, said she was "extremely distressed to learn about the unfortunate fire at the residential building."

Visuals from the scene showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from the building, indicating the intensity of the fire.

Firefighters were seen using hydraulic lifts and other specialised equipment to reach the upper floors and douse the flames.According to the Delhi Fire Services, a distress call was received around 7 am regarding a blaze near the Palam Metro Station. Despite continuous efforts, the flames raged for nearly three hours, making firefighting operations extremely challenging. Around 30 fire brigades were pressed into service to control the inferno.

Visuals from the scene showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from the building, highlighting the intensity of the fire. Firefighters were seen using hydraulic lifts and other specialised equipment to reach upper floors and douse the flames.Residents claimed that the fire was caused by a short-circuit in the early hours of Wednesday. The building reportedly housed 10–15 people at the time of the incident. Speaking with ANI, Raghunandan Sharma, a resident, said, "The short circuit occurred around 6 AM, and it kept spreading. The fire brigade was immediately informed, but they arrived after 40 minutes. Their ladder was not working, and the hydraulic machine also didn’t work properly.

If they had arrived on time, the incident could have been less disastrous. Several dead bodies have already been recovered, and more are feared."