New Delhi: Eighteen foreign nationals were among the 21 people killed in the devastating fire at a hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar on Wednesday, with most of the victims reportedly hailing from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh, officials said.
The fire took place in a building in the Malviya Nagar neighborhood in the southern part of the city, which has a restaurant on the ground floor and a hotel above. The predominantly residential area is densely populated and popular with students and young professionals.
The blaze was extinguished with the help of eight fire engines, and more than 40 people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals, Delhi police said in a statement. "It is with profound sorrow that 21 persons have been declared dead in this tragic incident," the police said. Television footage showed two people jumping from a higher floor of the building, and several people trapped inside as flames and smoke swept through parts of the building. Local residents joined rescue efforts, helping evacuate people who couldn't get out, and carrying some of the injured to safety.
"All concerned agencies remain deployed at the spot to ensure every possible assistance to those affected," the police added. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, but building fires are relatively common in India due to a lack of firefighting equipment and frequent disregard for safety regulations.
"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 officials 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.