A devastating fire in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar on Wednesday claimed at least 21 lives and left several others injured, making it one of the deadliest fire incidents in the national capital in recent times. Authorities fear the death toll may rise further as several victims remain in critical condition.
The blaze broke out during the morning hours in a building located in the narrow lanes of Hauz Rani. Initial reports suggested that the fire originated at the Lemon Green Restaurant. However, officials later clarified that the incident occurred at the Flourish Stay Bed & Breakfast facility, which also housed a restaurant in its basement. The building was known to accommodate both Indian and foreign guests, and several foreign nationals are believed to be among those who lost their lives.
Emergency services received the alert around 8:45 a.m., following which multiple fire tenders were rushed to the scene. Firefighters battled thick smoke and intense flames while carrying out rescue operations. More than 40 people were successfully evacuated from the building and immediately transported to nearby hospitals through emergency ambulance services.
Despite the swift rescue efforts, hospital authorities confirmed that 21 individuals were declared dead upon arrival. Several others remain hospitalized with severe burn injuries and smoke inhalation complications. Rescue teams continued searching the premises amid concerns that additional victims could still be trapped inside parts of the damaged structure.
The incident triggered a strong response from political leaders across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the families of each deceased victim and ₹50,000 for those injured in the tragedy.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief over the incident, stating that the administration was fully engaged in rescue and relief operations. He offered condolences to the families affected by the disaster and assured support from the central government.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the incident as heartbreaking and said that multiple emergency agencies, including Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, Disaster Management teams, and ambulance services, were mobilized immediately after the fire was reported. She assured that the Delhi government would provide all necessary assistance to victims and their families.
Meanwhile, local political leaders raised concerns regarding the response time of emergency services. Some alleged that fire department personnel reached the location later than expected, although authorities have not officially commented on those claims.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Investigators have begun examining the site to determine whether electrical faults, safety violations, or other factors contributed to the disaster. Officials are expected to inspect the building’s fire safety measures and compliance records as part of the investigation.
The tragedy has once again highlighted concerns about fire safety standards in densely populated urban areas. As rescue and recovery operations continue, families of the victims await answers while authorities work to uncover the cause behind the catastrophic incident.
Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
