At least nine persons were killed and three others injured when a major fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday in Palam, Southwest Delhi, the police said.The incident was reported around 7 am at a four-storey building in Ram Chowk Market, when most occupants were asleep.The structure housed a cloth and cosmetics showroom in the basement, ground, and first floors, while the owner’s family lived on the upper two floors.The deceased 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 years. The injured — Anil (32), Sachin (29) and a two-year-old girl — are undergoing treatment.The police said the Station House Officer (SHO) of Palam village, along with local staff, reached the spot soon after receiving information and initiated rescue operations in coordination with the Delhi Fire Service.According to officials, the building is owned by Rajender Kashyap, the market pradhan, whose family resided on the second and third floors. The fire was brought under control after an intensive operation involving around 20 fire tenders, 11 CATS ambulances and teams from BSES, Air Force Police and the NDRF.A forensic team has been called to examine the site. Local police and other agencies are deployed at the site as further investigation is under way.