South Delhi Fire Kills 21, Including Many Foreign Nationals/BBC
A devastating fire engulfed a multi-storey building in south Delhi, resulting in the loss of at least 21 lives and leaving numerous others injured, according to local police.
Many of the deceased were reported to be foreign nationals, including individuals from South Asian and African nations, who had come to India for medical treatment or to support relatives receiving care.
The building, located in the Malviya Nagar area, was allegedly functioning as a bed-and-breakfast aimed at accommodating patients and their families from a nearby private hospital.
Emergency responders managed to rescue over 40 individuals who were subsequently transported to hospitals.
The total number of occupants present when the fire erupted remains uncertain, and the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.
The incident marks one of the deadliest fires in recent memory within the Indian capital.
Fire officer AK Malik stated that the flames were quickly brought under control and that the site has since been cleared for police investigation.
Delhi Minister, Ashish Sood, announced that an inquiry is underway to determine if the building had the requisite permissions to operate as a lodging facility.
He emphasized that those responsible for any infractions would face legal consequences.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, extended his condolences and declared compensation of 200,000 rupees (approximately $2,088; £1,552) for the families of the deceased, along with 50,000 rupees for those injured.
Social media footage depicted flames erupting from the building as onlookers gathered. News broadcasts showed the exterior heavily scorched while emergency personnel conducted searches for survivors.
Eyewitness accounts revealed harrowing scenes within the structure, with many victims found unconscious, some beneath beds in hotel rooms and others collapsed in bathrooms.
A local resident named Wasim, who was among the first to respond, recounted finding a couple embracing each other in a washroom.
Another bystander reported administering CPR to several unconscious individuals, successfully reviving some.
A shopkeeper across the street described spreading quilts on the ground below to cushion those attempting to jump to safety, several people did leap from upper floors, with some surviving the fall.
Authorities have yet to release a comprehensive list of those who perished or formally identify the victims.
Local media sources indicated that some were foreign nationals from Bangladesh and other South Asian regions who had traveled to Delhi for medical assistance.
As search and rescue operations neared completion by early evening, ambulances remained on standby while officials continued to clear debris from the site.
Fires are a frequent occurrence in India, where safety regulations are often inadequately enforced.
Many of Delhi’s most tragic blazes have highlighted a significant disparity between safety standards established on paper and their actual implementation.
Investigations have consistently pointed to insufficient inspections, faulty electrical systems, and buildings operating outside their approved purposes.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong