Delhi building fire kills at least 21 people

At least 21 people were killed and several others injured when a fire tore through a multi-storey building in Delhi, trapping people on upper floors as thick smoke and flames spread through the structure, police said.

More than 40 people were rescued from the building in Malviya Nagar, a crowded neighbourhood in south Delhi, and taken to nearby hospitals. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, and authorities have opened an investigation.

Many of the victims were foreign nationals from South Asian countries who had travelled to India for medical treatment or to accompany relatives receiving care, local media reported. Local lawmaker Satish Upadhyay said several people in the building were from Bangladesh and other South Asian countries.

The BBC reported that the building allegedly operated as a bed-and-breakfast catering to patients and relatives of people being treated at a nearby private hospital. Al Jazeera reported that the building housed a restaurant on the ground floor and a hotel above. Delhi minister Ashish Sood said authorities were investigating whether the building had the required permissions to operate as a bed-and-breakfast facility, and that anyone responsible for violations would face criminal action.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control with the help of eight fire engines, Delhi police said. Rescue operations continued after the fire was contained.

“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,” fire officer AK Malik said.

Videos on social media showed flames shooting from the building as people gathered nearby. Footage broadcast by Indian news channels showed a badly charred exterior as emergency workers searched the site. Images from the scene showed firefighters aiming hoses at the burning building while thick black smoke poured from its windows.

Witnesses described panic as people trapped inside shouted for help. Some were seen hanging from windows as flames and smoke moved through the building. Bystanders helped evacuate people and carried some of the injured to safety before ambulances arrived.

“The fire broke out at about 08:50… we rushed to the spot to see that the entire building was on fire. There is a mattress shop at the corner from where we took out mattresses and laid them on the road,” witness Wasim Raj told ANI news agency. “People started to jump out of the building from the second and third floors. The fire-fighting team had reached the spot immediately and started rescue work.”

Sher Khan, who lives nearby, said people on upper floors cried out as the fire intensified. “As the fire intensified, it seemed as if there was no way to jump from here. People spread mattresses, and some from the third floor jumped out with a little kid… She was saying that she fractured her leg,” he said.

Another resident, Israr Khan, told reporters: “All of us have been here since morning. We rescued a child who jumped from the higher floor.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of those killed. His office said families of the dead would receive 200,000 rupees, or about $2,088, in financial assistance. Those injured would receive 50,000 rupees, the BBC reported.

Fires are common in India, where building safety laws, regulations and safety codes are often poorly enforced. In Delhi, deadly blazes in factories, coaching centres, hospitals and entertainment venues have repeatedly raised concerns about lax inspections, faulty electrical systems, blocked exits, narrow stairways and buildings operating beyond their approved use.