At least seven people, including three children, have died and two others injured after a fire broke out in a multi-storey building in Delhi’s Palam area on Wednesday. Several residents are still feared trapped, according to officials.

Firefighters rushed to the scene soon after the blaze was reported, and a large-scale rescue operation is ongoing. Around 25 fire tenders have been deployed to carry out cooling operations, search efforts, and evacuations.

Authorities confirmed that seven people lost their lives in the fire. Two others sustained injuries while jumping from the building in an attempt to escape the flames. They have been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Preliminary reports indicate that the building consists of a basement, ground floor, and four upper floors, with a temporary tin shed on the roof. The basement, ground, and first floors were reportedly being used to store clothes and cosmetics, while the second and third floors served as residential spaces.

Delhi Police teams have cordoned off the area to facilitate rescue and maintain security. A Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulance and medical personnel are stationed at the site to provide immediate care and transport for the injured.

Fire officials said the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be determined. The priority remains to fully extinguish the fire and ensure all occupants are safely evacuated.

The Delhi incident comes on the heels of another deadly fire in Madhya Pradesh earlier Wednesday. In Indore’s Tilak Nagar area, a fire in a three-storey house claimed six lives. Officials reported that an electric vehicle being charged outside the residence may have triggered the blaze. At the time of the fire, more than 10 people were inside the house. While three were rescued, six could not be saved, confirmed Indore Collector Shivam Verma.

Authorities in both locations are continuing rescue and relief efforts as investigations into the causes of the fires proceed.