At least 21 people tragically lost their lives and several others were injured on Wednesday morning after a devastating fire tore through a five-storey hotel and restaurant building in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, officials confirmed.
The blaze broke out around 8:50 AM in the basement of the hotel, located within the narrow lanes of the Hauz Rani area. The building also housed the ‘Lemon Green’ restaurant in its basement.
“I tried to switch on an electric stove around 8:00 AM, and flames suddenly flared up,” recounted Kesar Singh, a chef at the restaurant. “I quickly realized the fire had already spread and immediately alerted my assistant.”
The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) initially dispatched six fire tenders and emergency response vehicles after receiving a distress call. As the severe scale of the blaze became apparent, the deployment was rapidly upgraded to include additional firefighting units, water bowsers, and a quick-response vehicle.
Firefighters braved a heavily smoke-filled basement to pull out the first three victims, who were rushed to the hospital by Centralized Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulances.
By 11:20 AM, a coordinated effort by DFS personnel, local police, and brave residents successfully evacuated 37 people from the building. All rescued individuals have been shifted to various local hospitals for medical examination and treatment. Local residents noted that a significant number of the hotel’s guests were foreign nationals who had traveled to India for medical treatment.
While the fire has been brought under control, the exact cause of the ignition remains officially undetermined. Authorities have launched an investigation, and further details are currently awaited.
