What began as an ordinary stay for patients and their families turned into a devastating tragedy in India’s capital.
A massive fire ripped through a multi-storey building in south Delhi, killing at least 21 people and injuring dozens more.
The building, located in the Malviya Nagar area, reportedly operated as a bed-and-breakfast catering to people receiving treatment at a nearby private hospital.
Many of the victims were foreign nationals from South Asia and Africa who had travelled to India seeking medical care or supporting loved ones.
More than 40 people were rescued, but questions remain. How did the fire start? And was the building legally operating as a lodging facility?
Fire officer AK Malik said crews managed to contain the blaze quickly.
“The fire was brought under control quite early on,” he explained, though the damage had already been done.
Heartbreaking eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture.
Fire Exposes Safety Failures
One local resident described finding unconscious victims throughout the building.
Another recalled discovering a couple who had died embracing each other in a washroom.
A nearby shopkeeper even spread quilts on the ground to cushion desperate people jumping from upper floors.
Authorities have launched an investigation into possible safety violations.
The disaster once again highlights a troubling reality in India: safety regulations often exist on paper, but enforcement can lag behind.
For many families, the search for healing ended in unimaginable loss—a stark reminder that safety should never be an afterthought.
