A devastating fire swept through a multi-storey residential building in southeast Delhi's Tughlakabad area early Friday morning, killing three people and leaving two others in critical condition, officials said.

The victims included a 22-year-old man and two women. Emergency teams rescued several residents who became trapped inside the smoke-filled building.

Fire Breaks Out in Ground-Floor Parking Area

Officials said they received information about the fire at around 2:30 am from Gali No. 1 in Tughlakabad. The blaze started in the parking area on the ground floor of a residential building that had five upper floors above the ground level.

Preliminary investigations suggest that an electrical short circuit triggered the fire. The flames quickly spread through the parking area and engulfed seven parked two-wheelers. Among them was an electric scooter that was reportedly charging at the time of the incident.

Thick Smoke Traps Residents Inside

The fire generated large amounts of smoke, which rapidly spread through the staircase and upper floors of the building. As a result, several residents became trapped inside their homes.

According to officials, eight people were rescued from the building and rushed to Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment. Three of the rescued residents later succumbed to their injuries, while two others remain in critical condition.

Rescue Teams Rush to the Spot

Local police personnel reached the scene immediately after receiving the alert. Senior officers, including the Station House Officer (SHO), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), additional Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), and the DCP of the southeast district, soon joined the operation.

Authorities launched rescue efforts alongside firefighting operations. Four fire tenders, CATS ambulances and other emergency response teams were deployed to the site.

Firefighters Cut Open Locked Terrace Gate

Firefighters carried out a challenging rescue operation inside the smoke-filled building. They managed to bring five occupants out safely and shifted them to nearby hospitals through CATS ambulances.

During the search operation, firefighters climbed to the terrace after learning that some residents had moved to the rooftop to escape the smoke. They cut open a locked gate and rescued two girls who had taken shelter there.

Rescue personnel later evacuated another trapped resident as the operation continued.

Fire Brought Under Control

Officials said firefighters brought the blaze under control at around 3:45 am. They completely extinguished the fire by 4 am. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident. Early findings point to an electrical short circuit as the likely cause, though a detailed probe is underway.

Another Major Fire Incident in Delhi

The Tughlakabad tragedy comes just days after another deadly fire in Delhi. On June 3, a massive blaze broke out at a bed-and-breakfast facility in Hauz Rani, killing 23 people.

The latest incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety measures in residential and commercial buildings across the national capital.