At least 21 people lost their lives and more than 40 others were rescued after a devastating fire swept through a hotel building in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday morning, making it one of the deadliest fire tragedies in the national capital in recent years.
According to officials, the fire broke out shortly before 9 a.m. in a multi-storey building that housed a restaurant on the lower floors and hotel accommodation above. Preliminary reports suggest the blaze may have originated in the restaurant area before rapidly spreading through the structure, trapping guests and staff on the upper floors. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the incident.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as thick black smoke engulfed the building. Several people were seen hanging from windows and balconies, while some jumped from upper floors in desperate attempts to escape. Local residents rushed to help rescue those trapped, dragging mattresses onto the street to cushion the fall of people leaping from the burning building.
Delhi Fire Services deployed multiple fire tenders and rescue teams to the site. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control around midday. Police, fire personnel and emergency responders worked together to evacuate occupants and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. More than 40 people were rescued and shifted for medical treatment.
Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) confirmed that several injured victims were admitted for treatment, with some reported to be in critical condition. Authorities are continuing efforts to identify all victims and inform their families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives and conveyed condolences to the families of the victims. He announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each deceased person and ₹50,000 for those injured in the tragedy.
Delhi Police have launched an investigation into the incident and registered a case under relevant sections of the law. Officials are examining whether the building complied with fire safety norms and whether any negligence contributed to the disaster. The tragedy has once again raised serious concerns about fire safety standards in commercial establishments across the city.
