Agencies | New Delhi:
At least 21 people were killed and several others injured after a massive fire broke out in a hotel-cum-guest house in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday morning, triggering a large-scale rescue and firefighting operation.
Initial reports suggested that the fire had erupted at the Lemon Green Restaurant at around 8:45 a.m. However, Delhi Police later clarified that the blaze occurred at the Flourish Stay B&B located in Hauz Rani, a densely populated locality in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area.
According to officials, a significant number of those who lost their lives were foreign nationals.
The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received a distress call regarding the fire at approximately 9:45 a.m., following which multiple firefighting and rescue teams were rushed to the spot. The incident falls under the jurisdiction of the Nehru Place fire station.
In an initial statement, the DFS said that 37 people were rescued from the building and shifted to hospitals through CATS ambulances. Divisional Officer Ravinder of the Nehru Place fire station supervised the rescue operation on-site.
Delhi Police said 11 injured individuals were initially evacuated and admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Officials added that the exact condition of the injured would be known after medical assessments by doctors.
A senior fire official said 10 fire tenders were deployed to contain the blaze. The fire was later brought under control, although search and rescue operations continued as authorities checked the premises for any remaining occupants.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Fire department personnel and police teams continued inspecting the site even after the blaze was extinguished.
Following the tragedy, the Prime Minister’s Office announced financial assistance for the victims’ families.
“The loss of lives due to a fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, is tragic. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected,” the PMO said in a statement.
An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased victim, while those injured will receive ₹50,000.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also expressed grief over the incident in a post on X.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the devastating fire incident in Malviya Nagar. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured and for strength and courage to all those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy,” she wrote.
The Chief Minister said the Delhi government was closely monitoring the situation and ensuring all necessary medical assistance and support for affected families.
Meanwhile, local MLA Satish Upadhyay described the incident as a “massive fire in a multi-storeyed building” and indicated that many of the casualties were believed to be South African nationals.
The incident comes just a day after another major emergency in the national capital, when 10 people were injured in a suspected LPG cylinder explosion that led to the collapse of a building in Delhi’s Mukundpur area on Tuesday morning.
