Deadly Fire at New Delhi Hotel Kills at Least 21, Mostly Foreign Tourists

At least 21 people died and dozens were injured after a fire broke out early Wednesday in a five-story building in the Malviya Nagar neighborhood of south New Delhi. The blaze originated in a ground-floor restaurant and quickly spread to the hotel floors above, trapping many occupants. Emergency responders deployed eight fire engines and rescued more than 40 people, with local residents assisting in evacuation efforts as some victims jumped from windows to escape the flames. Authorities confirmed that the majority of the deceased were foreign nationals, primarily from African and Central Asian countries, who were staying nearby for medical treatment at the adjacent Max Hospital Saket.

Police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and launched an investigation into the fire's cause, which remains unknown but may involve an electrical fault. Preliminary reports indicate the hotel lacked a valid fire safety certificate, highlighting ongoing concerns over lax building code enforcement and inadequate safety equipment in densely populated Indian urban areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed condolences and pledged financial compensation to victims' families.