03 June,2026 06:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Forensic officials leave the site of a fire at a hotel in the Malviya Nagar area. Pic/PTI
A devastating fire broke out at the multi-storied Lemon Green Restaurant in Delhi's Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning, killing 21 people amongst whom 17 were foreign nationals according to Delhi Police.
Officials said the victims include people from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh, as per IANS reports.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) (South Delhi) Jitender Kumar confirmed that the rescue and search operation was completed at 12:12 p.m, reported the news agency.
He said, "A total of 47 people were rescued, of which 21 have died, and 26 are undergoing treatment," reported the news agency. The SDM also confirmed that emergency teams worked through the morning to evacuate people trapped inside the building.
According to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, 13 injured people were brought to the hospital. Among them, three people suffered injuries after jumping from a height while trying to escape the fire.
AIIMS Trauma Centre officials also confirmed that 10 of the injured are Delhi Police personnel who were among the first responders to enter the building during the rescue operation.
The hospital further said that three bodies have been shifted to the Burns and Plastic Surgery Department for post-mortem procedures.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced ex-gratia financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives in the fire while a sum of Rs 50,000 for the injured.
The incident has drawn reactions from across the political spectrum.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, saying on X, "My heart is deeply grieved by the fire incident in Delhi's Malviya Nagar." He added that the local administration is actively engaged in relief and rescue work. He further said that the injured are receiving the best medical care and prayed for their speedy recovery.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi described the incident as "extremely heartbreaking" and urged Congress workers to assist in relief efforts.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed condolences, saying the repeated fire incidents in the city were "extremely concerning."
Authorities have completed rescue operations and are now focusing on identifying victims and determining the cause of the fire. The scale of the tragedy has raised serious concerns over building safety and emergency preparedness in the capital.
(With IANS Inputs)
