At least 21 people have died and dozens more were injured following a massive fire in a high-rise building in the Indian capital, New Delhi. Among the victims are foreigners from South Asian countries who came to India for medical treatment or were accompanying relatives. This was reported by the BBC, according to UNN.
Details
The fire occurred in the Malviya Nagar area. According to local media, the building functioned as a bed-and-breakfast hotel for patients and their relatives undergoing treatment at a nearby private hospital.
Police reported that more than 40 people were rescued and hospitalized. The exact number of people inside at the time of the fire is currently unknown.
The causes of the fire are still being determined.
The fire was brought under control fairly quickly. We have completely cleared the building and handed it over to the police
Delhi Minister Ashish Sood said that authorities are checking whether the building had the necessary permits to operate as a hotel facility. According to him, everyone involved in potential violations will be held criminally responsible.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the victims and announced compensation. The families of the victims will receive 200,000 rupees each, while the injured will receive 50,000 rupees each.
Footage of the massive fire was shared on social media and Indian television channels. The video shows flames engulfing the building as people on the upper floors tried to escape.
Eyewitnesses said the fire spread very quickly, leaving people trapped.
People started jumping from the second and third floors. We brought out mattresses from a nearby shop and laid them on the road
Another witness, Sher Khan, stated that trapped people were calling for help.
Some jumped from the third floor even with small children. One woman said she broke her leg
Local lawmaker Satish Upadhyay stated that among the people in the building were citizens of Bangladesh and other South Asian countries who had arrived in India for medical treatment.
The BBC notes that large-scale fires remain a common occurrence in India due to poor compliance with safety regulations. Previous investigations have repeatedly identified issues with electrical wiring, insufficient inspections, and the misuse of buildings.