Delhi: 21 killed in fire at Malviya Nagar

Twenty-one persons died in a fire that broke out in a building in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday, ANI reported.

Forty-seven persons were rescued from the multi-story building, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Satish Upadhyay told the news agency.

Several of those killed were foreign citizens from African countries, The Indian Express quoted the police as saying.

The fire was brought under control quickly, ANI quoted Fire Officer AK Malik as saying. The cause of the fire was unclear.

Based on preliminary inquiries the building did not appear to be a residential structure, Malik said.

“Rather, it appears that most of the occupants were individuals whose known people were being treated in the MAX Hospital located directly across the street,” he was quoted as saying. “Therefore, it is likely that these individuals were staying here for that specific purpose...”

Some persons were rescued from the basement of a restaurant in the building, PTI quoted a Delhi Fire Service official as saying.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the teams of Delhi Fire Service, police the Delhi Disaster Management Authority had been mobilised and a rescue operation was undertaken. “Their swift response helped in rescuing and evacuating several persons from the affected premises,” Gupta said on social media.

The Delhi government was monitoring the situation, she said.

The police have filed a first information report and have invoked charges of culpable homicide, among others, ANI reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund for the families of those who had died. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, the prime minister’s office said.

Lodging establishments violating building plans to be sealed

Following the fire, Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood directed all bed-and-breakfast establishments violating building plans and guidelines to be sealed, The Indian Express reported.

“No need to issue any showcause notice or give time to such owners for explanation,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “Just seal all the BnBs.”

The minister also directed the setting up of a high-level committee to be headed by the district magistrate. The panel will comprise officials from the fire department, municipal corporation, and power, health and tourism departments, to inspect all lodging establishment in Delhi.

Edited by Nachiket Deuskar and Tanya Shrivastava.