A devastating fire broke out at a restaurant in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday morning, claiming at least 21 lives, officials confirmed. The Delhi Fire Services received an emergency call at 09:45 am and promptly dispatched multiple fire tenders to the site. Rescue operations continued for several hours, with teams successfully evacuating 37 individuals from the building. All rescued persons were transported to nearby hospitals using CATS ambulances.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
According to authorities, identification of the deceased is still in progress. Preliminary reports suggest that many of the victims may be foreign nationals, as per news agency PTI. Earlier, three people were rescued from the basement and shifted to medical facilities. SDM and DDMA official Jitendra Kumar stated that emergency response systems were activated immediately after the alert. He added that the fire is believed to have originated from the restaurant on the ground floor, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Government Response and Compensation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences and announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also expressed grief, noting that all emergency agencies responded swiftly and continue to monitor the situation. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic, with some individuals jumping from upper floors to escape the flames. The fire, which broke out at the Lemon Green restaurant, led to a large-scale rescue operation involving multiple fire tenders, police, and disaster management teams.
As the investigation proceeds, officials are working to confirm the identities of the deceased and notify their families. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the critical need for stringent fire safety measures in commercial establishments.
