 "9, including 3 children, die as fire breaks out in Delhi's residential building")
At least nine people have died in Delhi’s Palam area after a fire broke out in a residential building on Wednesday. Among the dead are three children.
The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) said that they rescued the residents, later taking them to the hospital, but nine people were declared dead. Three others were injured, two of them jumped from the building at Ram Chowk Market near Palam Metro Station in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.
The five-storey building had a cloth and cosmetic showroom on the ground and first floor, while the family of the owner of the showroom, Rajender Kashyap, lived on the second and third floors.
Who are the victims?
The victims of the deadly fire have been identified as Pravesh (33), Kamal (39), Ashu (35), Lado (70 ), Himanshi (22), Deepika (28) and three minor girls aged 15, six and three.
Meanwhile, Anil, 32, and a girl aged two are under treatment, and Sachin (29) was being treated for 25 per cent burn injuries at Safdarjung Hospital.
VIDEO | Delhi: Rescue work underway after fire broke out in a building near Palam Metro Station. Several people are feared trapped inside the building. As many as 30 fire tenders at the spot. #PalamFire #DelhiNews
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 18, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/xHUqUUZnIn
PM announces ex gratia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh. “The fire incident in Palam, Delhi, is saddening. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” PMO said.
The fire incident in Palam, Delhi, is saddening. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 18, 2026
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs.…
Visuals from the scene showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing out of the building and rising into the sky, with flames engulfing parts of the structure as firefighters battled the blaze in the congested market area.
Firefighters carried out intensive search and rescue operations, navigating through narrow lanes and smoke-filled interiors to evacuate those trapped inside. The fire has since been doused, officials said.
With inputs from agencies
 "Iran War Live Updates: Israeli media say Iran’s intelligence chief targeted in Tehran strike")
 "Mojtaba missing, Larijani killed: Who is running Iran?")
 "Iran allowing more ships through Strait of Hormuz, including Indian, data shows")
 "Who is Matthew VanDyke, the US filmmaker-turned-‘mercenary’ arrested in India on terror charges?")
 "Iran War Live Updates: Israeli media say Iran’s intelligence chief targeted in Tehran strike")
 "Mojtaba missing, Larijani killed: Who is running Iran?")
 "Iran allowing more ships through Strait of Hormuz, including Indian, data shows")
 "Who is Matthew VanDyke, the US filmmaker-turned-‘mercenary’ arrested in India on terror charges?")
