Fire at New Delhi hotel kills at least 21 people, including 18 foreigners
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- A fire in a hotel in New Delhi's Malviya Nagar neighborhood killed at least 21 people, including 18 foreign nationals from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Liberia, many of whom were in the city for medical treatment.
- The blaze, one of the deadliest in recent years in the Indian capital, occurred in a building housing a restaurant on the ground floor and a hotel above, in a densely populated residential area popular with students and young professionals.
- More than 40 people were rescued and hospitalized, with local residents assisting in evacuation efforts as flames and smoke trapped some individuals inside the building.
- The cause of the fire is suspected to be linked to the restaurant on the ground floor, though the exact reason remains unknown; building fires are common in India due to inadequate firefighting equipment and safety regulation lapses.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims' families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, while authorities continue to provide assistance to those affected.