New Delhi, June 3: At least 21 people were killed and several others injured after a massive fire broke out at a bed-and-breakfast operating in a five-storey building in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday morning, officials said.
Several of those killed were foreign nationals, mainly from Central Asian and African countries. Authorities said the death toll could rise as a number of the injured remain in critical condition.
The blaze erupted at Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani, a congested locality in Malviya Nagar. Earlier reports suggested the fire had started at the nearby Lemon Green Restaurant, but police later clarified that the blaze originated in the hotel building.
The building comprises a basement, ground floor and five upper floors. A restaurant was operating on the ground floor, while the remaining floors were being used as a hotel. According to police sources, the hotel had only one entry-exit point and its fire safety clearance is under scrutiny.
More than 40 people were rescued and shifted to hospitals, where 21 were declared brought dead. Officials said several victims attempted to escape by breaking windows and jumping from the upper floors as thick smoke and flames engulfed the structure.
Teams from the Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police and disaster response units carried out extensive search and rescue operations. More than ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was eventually brought under control.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will receive Rs 50,000 each.
President Droupadi Murmu described the incident as “extremely heartbreaking” and expressed condolences to the bereaved families while praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.
Eyewitnesses said local residents played a crucial role in the rescue efforts before emergency services arrived. A mattress seller reportedly spread mattresses on the ground to cushion the fall of people jumping from the building, while others administered CPR to the injured.
The building suffered extensive damage in the fire, with debris, shattered glass and burnt materials scattered around the area. The rescue operation has been completed and the site has been cordoned off for investigation.
Authorities have launched a probe into the incident, while the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
(Inputs from PTI and IANS)
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