Deadly Fire in South Delhi Claims 21 Lives
At least 21 people have died and many others sustained injuries after a fire engulfed a multi-storey building in south Delhi, according to police in India's capital.
Many victims were foreign nationals, including individuals from South Asian and African countries, who had come to India for medical treatment or to accompany relatives undergoing care, local media reported.
The building, located in the Malviya Nagar area, reportedly functioned as a bed-and-breakfast catering to patients and their relatives receiving treatment at a nearby private hospital.
More than 40 people were rescued and transported to hospitals. The exact number of occupants inside the building at the time of the fire remains unclear. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
This incident is among the deadliest fires in recent years in Delhi.
Fire Response and Investigation
"The fire was brought under control quite early on - it was contained very quickly. We have now cleared the building and opened it up for the police,"said fire officer AK Malik.
Delhi minister Ashish Sood stated that authorities are investigating whether the building had the necessary permissions to operate as a bed-and-breakfast. He added that anyone found responsible for violations would face criminal charges.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,088; £1,552) for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for those injured.
Eyewitness Accounts and Rescue Efforts
Videos circulating on social media showed flames erupting from the building as crowds gathered nearby. Indian news channels broadcast footage depicting the building’s exterior severely charred while emergency personnel conducted searches.
Eyewitnesses and local residents told BBC Hindi that upon entering the building, they found many individuals unconscious—some lying beneath beds in hotel rooms and others collapsed in washrooms.
Wasim, a nearby resident and one of the first responders, recounted a particularly distressing scene. He said he discovered the bodies of a couple in a washroom, holding each other in an embrace.
Another witness reported performing CPR on several unconscious victims, successfully reviving some.
A shopkeeper operating a quilt store opposite the building said he spread quilts on the ground below to cushion those attempting to jump to safety. Several people jumped from upper floors, with some surviving the fall.
Victim Identification and Nationalities
Authorities have not yet released a comprehensive list of the deceased or formally identified the victims. Local media, citing officials and other sources, reported that some victims were foreign nationals from neighboring South Asian countries as well as African and Central Asian nations.
Several individuals in the building were from Bangladesh and other parts of South Asia, having traveled to Delhi for medical treatment, according to local lawmaker Satish Upadhyay.
BBC Hindi correspondent Dilnawaz Pasha, present at the scene, reported that the search and rescue operation is nearly complete, though ambulances remain on standby as officials continue clearing debris.
Context of Fire Safety in India
Fires are common in India, where enforcement of building safety regulations is often inadequate.
From factories and coaching centers to hospitals and entertainment venues, many of Delhi's deadliest fires have revealed a persistent gap between safety regulations on paper and their implementation in practice.
Investigations have repeatedly identified lax inspections, faulty electrical systems, and buildings operating beyond their approved use as contributing factors.
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