Fatal Blazeat New Delhi Hotel Leaves 21 Dead

A fire swept through a hotel on Wednesday in a densely populated area of New Delhi, killing at least 21 people and injuring many others.

The Delhi Fire Service stated that eight fire engines arrived at 8:48 a.m. local time to the Flourish Stay B&B in Malviya Nagar, located in the southern part of the capital.

Firefighters were accompanied by police and additional emergency medical personnel. Over 40 occupants were rescued; the blaze was eventually extinguished and survivors were transported to nearby hospitals. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Istkhar Ahmad, a 49‑year‑old resident who has lived in the area for 25 years, witnessed the fire at 8:30 a.m. He noted that fire brigades took approximately half an hour to arrive.

“I observed a small fire originating in the guesthouse kitchen,” he said. “Soon after, people on the upper floor began crying and attempted to break their windows.”

When rescue workers finally arrived, Ahmad reported that the building was fully engulfed. Along with other onlookers, they placed bedding and quilts on the ground to catch those who leapt; he estimated around ten to twelve individuals jumped. Most of the jumpers were Nigerian nationals.

Several private hospitals line the main streets surrounding the densely packed neighborhood, treating many foreign patients. India refers to them as medical tourists; citizens from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and various African nations travel to India seeking cost‑effective treatments unavailable at home.

A series of prior accidents had drawn attention to unsafe housing conditions in India’s capital. On May 30, a building collapsed within a mile of Wednesday’s fire, resulting in six fatalities.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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