At least 21 people were killed after a fire broke out at a Lemon Green restaurant in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday, prompting the Delhi Fire Services to launch a major rescue operation, according to the Delhi Police.
The fire started at Flourish Stay B&B at Hauz Rani in Malviya Nagar around 8.30 am and spread quickly, catching everyone by surprise. Rescue workers, including many local residents, rushed to the scene to extricate those trapped inside the narrow five-storey building.
Officials said that about 40 people were rescued and taken to hospital, where 21 people were declared dead. The death toll is expected to rise, as many of the wounded are in critical condition.
path Latest updates on Delhi Malviya Nagar fire here
Witnesses said that several people jumped from the burning building to escape the flames, while residents pulled mattresses from a nearby store to try to stop their fall.
Eyewitness Sher Khan said: “People spread out mattresses and a woman jumped on them from the third floor with a small child.”
The President and Prime Minister offer their condolences
President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta were among those who expressed their condolences.
“The news of the loss of lives in the fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Murmu said in a Hindi post on X.
The Prime Minister described the loss of life as tragic. Modi said in a post on the X website: “My condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured. The authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected.”
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the Delhi government is closely monitoring the situation. In a post on X, Gupta said that emergency response teams from Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and CATS ambulance services were mobilized immediately after receiving information about the incident. She said their quick response helped rescue and evacuate many people from the damaged buildings.
The Prime Minister also expressed her condolences to the families of those killed, and said that all necessary assistance and medical support are being provided to the affected families. “In this hour of grief, the Delhi government stands firmly with the affected families. We remain committed to providing all possible support to those affected by this tragedy,” she said.
Earlier in the day, DFS officials said 11 people were rescued from the building and taken to hospitals by Central Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulances. However, Delhi Police later confirmed that at least 10 people died in the incident.
During the operation, firefighters entered the basement of the restaurant and rescued people trapped inside. Divisional Officer Ravinder from Nehru Place Fire Station was present at the spot and supervised the rescue efforts.
“A fire broke out in a restaurant in Malviya Nagar. Delhi Fire Services received a call and immediately sent firefighting units to the scene. Rescue operations were carried out and the injured were shifted to hospitals,” an official said.
Read also: How locals helped people escape the fire at Malviya Nagar restaurant in Delhi
The exact number of people who were inside the restaurant when the fire broke out was not immediately known. Authorities are continuing search and rescue operations while assessing the extent of the damage.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Police and fire department officials have launched an investigation to determine how the fire started and whether any fire safety violations or lapses contributed to the tragedy.
