Fire At A Hotel In New Delhi; 21 Dead & 40 Rescued

At least 21 people were killed in a fire at a hotel in Delhi on Wednesday (Jun 3), police said, in one of the worst such incidents in the capital in recent years.

"It is with profound sorrow that 21 persons have been declared dead in this tragic incident," police said in a press statement, adding that more than 40 others were rescued.

The hotel was located in Malviya Nagar in south Delhi, they said, a predominantly residential area popular with students and young professionals.

"There was reportedly a restaurant operating on the ground floor of the building ... it is most likely that the fire was connected to that restaurant," local administration official Jitendra Kumar told reporters.

Television visuals showed a building on fire, smoke billowing out and charred exteriors as residents watched from a narrow lane nearby.

They also showed two people jumping from a higher floor of the building.

Images from the scene showed firefighters trying to douse the blaze. Local residents also joined rescue efforts, helping evacuate people trapped inside and carrying some of the injured to safety.

Some of the victims were foreign nationals who had travelled to India for medical treatment, local media reported.

The fire was extinguished, but how it started was not immediately clear.

Four bodies were recovered from the site, Jitendra Kumar, a senior administrative official, said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the loss of lives was tragic and extended his heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Fires are common in India, where building laws and safety norms are often flouted by builders and residents.

Source: CNA/AP