Fire in New Delhi claims at least 21 lives – investigations underway

According to a police spokesperson, at least 19 people were also rescued from the building. Reuters reported, citing television images, that at least two people had jumped from higher floors. The fire department stated that it deployed eight fire engines and declared the fire extinguished, but that the building was still being searched.

Clues to Cause and Victims

Among the dead were people from Central Asia and Africa, according to the Indian news agency PTI. Local media such as "The Indian Express" reported that several of the African victims had traveled to Delhi for medical treatment. The identities of the deceased could not be definitively established at first.

The Malviya Nagar district, where the building is located, is considered a predominantly residential area, is densely populated, and according to reports, is popular with students and young professionals.

Political Reactions

The exact cause of the fire was initially unclear. An official told Reuters that the fire was "most likely" related to the restaurant on the ground floor of the building. Official investigators did not initially provide information on possible triggers such as defective electrical appliances, which repeatedly cause fires in India.

Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, ordered an investigation into the incident. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the relatives of the victims and announced financial aid for those affected. Modi praised the efforts of the rescue services and assured support for the families of the deceased.

Rescue Operations and Aid

The news was broadcast on Deutschlandfunk on 03/06/2026, as the broadcaster noted. Several Indian media outlets reported continuously on the situation on Wednesday.

Images of smoke plumes over the district and of injured people being treated on the street circulated on social networks. Eyewitnesses reported that many residents were surprised by the fire in their sleep. The narrow alleys and high population density made rescue efforts difficult.

The fire department stated that the search for any further victims would continue systematically. Search dogs and thermal imaging cameras would also be used to inspect inaccessible areas of the building. The police set up a hotline for relatives looking for missing persons.

Fire Safety in Indian Cities

The incident once again raises questions about fire safety in Indian cities. Fires in buildings with inadequate safety precautions, missing escape routes, and outdated electrical systems repeatedly claim lives in India. Experts have pointed out for years that inspections and permits in densely populated areas are often only superficial.

Dozens of injured people were treated in surrounding hospitals, some with severe burns and smoke inhalation. Doctors appealed for blood donations, as the capacity of emergency rooms was severely strained by the large number of injured. Authorities also set up emergency shelters for residents who had become homeless.

The Indian capital region of Delhi has suffered from severe building fires in the past, each claiming dozens of lives. The current fire is described in Indian media as one of the deadliest in the capital in years. Authorities announced that the results of the investigation would be published quickly once reliable findings were available.

Investigations and Next Steps

Representatives of African embassies in Delhi established contact with the authorities to assist in identifying the deceased compatriots. Relatives traveling from abroad were looked after by staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs upon their arrival. The official information on the nationality of the deceased remained provisional.

The police announced that they would continue the investigation with the support of the forensic department and the municipal building authority. It would be examined whether fire safety regulations were violated in the building and whether escape routes were blocked or non-existent. Results were expected in a few days at the earliest.