Nigerians are among the 18 foreign nationals who lost their lives in a tragic fire at a hotel in Delhi, India, on Wednesday. The blaze claimed a total of 21 lives, with police and broadcaster CNN-News18 confirming the fatalities. The other foreign victims hailed from Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Liberia, according to the broadcaster.
Details of the Incident
The victims had traveled to India for medical treatment or to accompany relatives receiving care, as reported by local media. The building, located in the Malviya Nagar area, was allegedly operating as a bed-and-breakfast catering to patients and their families from a nearby private hospital.
Eyewitness Accounts
Several people jumped from the burning building to escape the flames. Witnesses described how residents dragged mattresses from a nearby store to cushion their falls. Sher Khan, a witness, said, 'People spread mattresses, and a woman from the third floor jumped on it with a little kid.' Television footage showed two people leaping from a higher floor as the building was engulfed in flames and smoke billowed out.
Rescue Efforts
Local residents assisted in the initial rescue. Wasim Raja, a local resident, told news agency, 'There is a mattress shop here ... We took the mattresses from there and laid them on the road to help those who were jumping out of the building.' The fire broke out shortly before 9 a.m. (0330 GMT), and eight fire tenders were dispatched to douse the blaze, police said. The fire was extinguished around midday, a Reuters witness confirmed.
Police stated, 'Through the coordinated efforts of police, fire services, and other emergency responders, more than 40 persons have been rescued and shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.' They added, 'It is with profound sorrow that 21 persons have been declared dead in this tragic incident.'
Hospital Response
A spokesperson at the state-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences told Reuters that the hospital had received 13 patients, two of whom were in critical condition. Local administration official Jitendra Kumar said, '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.'
Official Reactions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the loss of lives in a post on X, stating, 'Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected.'
