New Delhi, June

A massive fire broke out in a hotel in a congested bylane in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people, including foreigners whose ailing relatives were being treated in hospitals nearby.

The blaze at the Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani in Malviya Nagar started around 8.30am and quickly spread, catching everybody unawares. Rescue workers, including many locals, rushed to the spot to pull out those trapped inside the five-floor, narrow building.

About 40 people were rescued and rushed to the hospital, where 21 were declared dead, officials said. The death toll could rise, with several of the injured in a critical condition.

The hotel had permission for only six rooms, granted under the Delhi government’s bed and breakfast policy, but was operating 25, police officials said. Rooms had also come up in the basement.

In a tragedy that was perhaps waiting to happen, they said the hotel had only one entry-exit. The fire NOC is under the scanner.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

Among the casualties were foreign nationals, many from Central Asian and African countries, staying in the hotel in to attend to their kin admitted in Max Hospital minutes away.

Visuals from the area -- with narrow lanes, overhanging wires and cramped buildings haphazardly sharing space -- showed high flames rising in the air and wires twisted out of shape in the heat hanging precariously. Glass lay shattered all around the smoke-charred building.

Teams from the Delhi Fire Services, police and disaster response units searched the smoke-blackened structure for survivors. Victims were seen being pulled out of the basement and rushed to hospitals in ambulances.

The urban village of Hauz Rani is minutes away from swanky malls, upscale hospitals and the Saket court complex, as well as the residential localities of Malviya Nagar and Saket.

Officials said the fire started at Lemon Green Restaurant, but police later clarified that it was a hotel building. The building has a basement, ground floor and five upper floors, according to fire officer AK Malik.

The restaurant was on the ground floor, while the rest of the building was being used as a hotel.

“We have cordoned off the entire area. Multiple teams have already reached the site. Teams are checking the number of rooms the hotel has. Every single angle will be probed. Some of the police personnel and fire officials also received injuries," a senior police official told PTI.

According to one eyewitness and a first responder, the basement was locked, and he helped the fire team to help open it. "It took more than 20 minutes to open the basement area,” he alleged.

Horrific scenes played out all over.

As thick smoke engulfed the building and flames spread rapidly, several people were seen breaking window panes and calling for help.

"A woman holding a young child jumped from the third floor after local residents spread mattresses on the ground below in an attempt to save those trapped inside," an eyewitness said.

"She was carrying the child tightly and jumped when there was no other way out. People had already arranged mattresses below the building. Both survived, but she appeared to have suffered injuries," he added.

A mattress-seller spread his mattresses on the ground to cushion the fall of people while others administered CPR to injured victims.

At the Max Hospital across the road, stunned relatives crowded the waiting area searching for their loved ones, scanning lists and making frantic phone calls as the injured and the dead were brought in.

"We can't recognise them by looking at pictures; it's unrecognisable. Everyone is severely burnt," said one man sobbing uncontrollably.

Also searching desperately was Namit Goel, who said six of his relatives were among those caught in the fire. While four bodies had been identified, two were yet to be identified. "Four bodies are in Max Saket mortuary and two bodies are in another hospital. We are trying to locate them," he said.

Max Hospital said in a statement that 39 patients were received at the emergency department. Of these 18 were brought dead, while 15 were admitted to the ICU, including eight who are on ventilator support and are in critical condition, the hospital said.

The patients suffered from asphyxiation, minor burn injuries and fractures, it said.

Five patients with minor injuries were treated and discharged after primary medical care, while one patient was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital due to extensive burn injuries, it added.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences received 13 patients -- three of them sustained injuries from fall and 10 were those who got hurt while rescuing those trapped in the burning building.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among those who expressed their condolences.

"The news of the loss of lives in the fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured," Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi

The prime minister described the loss of lives as tragic. “My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected," Modi said in a post on X.

The prime minister said ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi, expressed their grief.

"I urge all Congress workers to extend every possible assistance in the relief and rescue operations. I hope for the speedy recovery of the injured," Gandhi said in a post on X. "Deeply saddened by the tragic fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi. My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured."

State government authorities should provide adequate and timely compensation, including prompt medical care to the victims, Kharge said.