At least 21 people have died and dozens more were injured after a fire swept through a multi-storey building in south Delhi, according to police in the Indian capital.
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Several of those killed were foreign nationals, including people from South Asian, African and Central Asian countries who had travelled to India for medical treatment or were accompanying relatives receiving care, local media reported.
The blaze broke out at the Flourish Stay bed-and-breakfast in the Malviya Nagar area. The property is believed to have catered primarily to patients and family members visiting a nearby private hospital.
More than 40 people were rescued and taken to hospital. Authorities have not yet confirmed how many people were inside the building when the fire started, and the cause remains under investigation.
One of Delhi's Deadliest Fires
The incident is among the deadliest fires in the Indian capital in recent years.
Fire officer AK Malik said crews brought the blaze under control quickly before conducting a full search of the building.
"The fire was brought under control quite early on - it was contained very quickly. We have now cleared the building and opened it up for the police," he said.
Delhi minister Ashish Sood said officials were investigating whether the property had the required permissions to operate as a bed-and-breakfast facility. He added that anyone found responsible for violations would face criminal action.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims' families and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,088) for the families of those killed and 50,000 rupees for those injured.
Witness Accounts
Videos shared on social media showed flames engulfing the building as crowds gathered outside. Television footage later showed the structure heavily damaged while emergency teams searched for victims.
Witnesses told BBC Hindi that many people were found unconscious inside the building. Some were discovered beneath beds in hotel rooms, while others were found collapsed in washrooms.
Wasim, a local resident who helped during the rescue effort, said he found the bodies of a couple embracing inside a washroom.
Another witness said several unconscious victims were given CPR, with some successfully revived.
A shopkeeper whose business faces the building said he laid quilts on the ground to help cushion people attempting to jump from upper floors. According to witnesses, several people survived after leaping from the building.
Victims Yet to Be Identified
Authorities have not released a complete list of those killed or formally identified the victims.
Local lawmaker Satish Upadhyay said a number of people from Bangladesh and other South Asian countries were staying in the building while seeking medical treatment in Delhi.
By early evening, search and rescue operations were nearing completion, although ambulances remained on standby as crews continued clearing debris.
Safety Concerns
Fires remain a recurring problem across India, where enforcement of building safety regulations is often criticised as inadequate.
Previous investigations into major fires have highlighted issues including poor inspections, faulty electrical systems and buildings operating beyond their approved use. Incidents at factories, hospitals, coaching centres and entertainment venues have repeatedly exposed gaps between safety regulations and their enforcement.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 4 June 2026