Hotel Fire Kills At Least 21 People In India’s Capital, Including Foreign Nationals

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

NEW DELHI (Worthy News) – At least 21 people, including numerous foreign nationals who had traveled to India for medical treatment, were killed Wednesday after a devastating fire swept through a multi-storybuilding in India’s capital, New Delhi, authorities said.

More than 40 others were rescued and taken to hospitals after flames engulfed the building in Malviya Nagar, a district of south Delhi, one of the city’s busiest residential and commercial areas.

Police said many of those killed were foreigners from South Asian and African nations. Indian broadcaster CNN-News18 reported that at least 18 of the victims were foreign nationals, including people from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Liberia.

Authorities said the building functioned as a bed-and-breakfast facility catering primarily to patients and relatives seeking treatment at a nearby private hospital.

The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, though local officials suggested it may have originated in a restaurant reportedly operating on the ground floor.

DELHI HOTEL FIRE INVESTIGATION

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims’ families and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees (about $2,100) for the relatives of those killed and 50,000 rupees for those injured.

“It is with profound sorrow that 21 persons have been declared dead in this tragic incident,” Delhi Police said in a statement.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as residents became trapped on upper floors while thick smoke filled stairwells and corridors.

Video footage obtained by Worthy News showed people leaping from upper-story windows to escape the flames as local residents rushed to help.

“People spread mattresses, and a woman from the third floor jumped on it with a little kid,” witness Sher Khan told reporters.

VICTIMS TRAPPED BY SMOKE

Another resident, Wasim Raja, said neighbors dragged mattresses from a nearby bedding store into the street to cushion the fall of desperate occupants.

“There is a mattress shop here. We took the mattresses from there and laid them on the road to help those who were jumping out of the building,” he told reporters.

Firefighters said the blaze broke out shortly before 9 a.m. local time and was eventually brought under control after several hours.

“The fire was brought under control quite early on. We have now cleared the building and opened it up for the police,” fire officer A.K. Malik added.

Eyewitnesses entering the building after the flames subsided found victims unconscious in rooms, hallways, and washrooms.

RESCUE TEAMS SEARCH BUILDING

One resident recounted discovering a couple who had apparently died while embracing each other inside a bathroom as smoke overwhelmed the building.

Doctors at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences confirmed receiving multiple burn and smoke-inhalation victims, with some reported in critical condition.

Authorities launched an investigation into whether the facility possessed the required licenses and safety approvals to operate as a guesthouse.

Delhi minister Ashish Sood said anyone found responsible for violations of building regulations or fire-safety requirements would face criminal prosecution.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about fire safety standards in India, where fatal blazes occur regularly despite existing regulations.

INDIA FIRE SAFETY CONCERNS

Investigations into previous disasters have repeatedly identified poor enforcement of building codes, faulty electrical wiring, inadequate fire exits, and buildings used for purposes beyond those officially approved.

New Delhi has experienced several major fire disasters in recent years.

In May 2022, at least 27 people were killed when a massive blaze swept through a commercial building in the Mundka area of western Delhi.

In 2019, a fire in a factory operating inside a crowded residential neighborhood killed more than 40 workers, many of whom were sleeping inside the building.

One of the deadliest incidents occurred in 1997 when a fire at the Uphaar Cinema in Delhi claimed 59 lives and injured more than 100 people, prompting years of legal battles and calls for stricter safety enforcement.

DEADLIEST FIRES IN NEW DELHI

Wednesday’s blaze ranks among the deadliest fires in the Indian capital in recent years and is expected to intensify scrutiny of safety standards in buildings housing vulnerable patients and their families.

By early evening, rescue workers continued clearing debris and searching the structure as ambulances remained on standby and authorities worked to identify all victims.

Officials said the death toll could rise as investigations continue.

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