New delhi: At least 21 people were killed in a fire on Wednesday in a multi-storey building housing a bed and breakfast hotel in a congested area of the Indian capital. Over 40 people were rescued from the building in the Hauz Rani area of southern New Delhi, a police department official said. They were rushed to nearby hospitals and 21 were declared dead.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the victims included foreign nationals from Central Asia and Africa, as reported by the PTI news agency. The police have not yet identified the deceased, and the cause of the fire remains unclear, as stated by the German Press Agency (DPA).
The fire service successfully extinguished the blaze and is currently conducting a search of the building, deputy fire officer AK Malik reported. It is still uncertain whether the building had a fire exit and the necessary permissions.
Rekha Gupta, Delhi Chief Minister, confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the fire will be conducted. She also pledged support for the injured and the families of the victims.
His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, expressed his condolences and announced financial assistance for those affected. Fire-related deaths are common in India, often attributed to inadequate safety measures and the absence of fire escapes. Such incidents are frequently caused by substandard or ageing electrical equipment.