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Hotel fire in Malviya Nagar
A fire ripped through Flourish Stay, a bed-and-breakfast in the Malviya Nagar area of south Delhi, killing at least 21 people and injuring dozens more, Delhi Police said.
“At least 21 people have been killed, including 18 foreign nationals, as a fire ripped through a hotel in New Delhi, police said, in one of the deadliest blazes in the Indian capital in years”
Police said, "It is with profound sorrow that 21 persons have been declared dead in this tragic incident," and authorities said more than 40 people were taken to hospitals for treatment.
CBS News said the fire started around 8:50 a.m. local time in the ground floor restaurant of the Flourish Inn Stay hotel and quickly spread to upper floors where many people were still asleep.
CBS News reported that 47 people were in the building when the fire broke out and that police confirmed at least 21 people, including 17 foreign nationals from African and central Asian nations, had died.
Euronews reported that several of those killed were foreigners, mainly from Central Asia and Africa, and said the Press Trust of India quoted unnamed officials on the nationalities.
Jumpers, rescue, and investigations
Videos showed people jumping from upper floors as local resident Vasim Raja told CBS News, "I saw at least two people jumping out from the windows," and he said rescuers took time to reach the spot.
CBS News added that rescuers took time, but "we brought out seven people from the basement of the building before any rescuers arrived," describing the first moments after the blaze.
Fire officer AK Malik told dailydispatch that "The fire was brought under control quite early on – it was contained very quickly," and he said authorities cleared the building and opened it up for police.
Delhi minister Ashish Sood said authorities were investigating whether the building had the necessary permissions to operate as a bed-and-breakfast facility, and the broadcaster said those found responsible would face criminal action.
Euronews reported Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the deaths "tragic" and that his office said, "My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones," as firefighters used eight fire engines to bring the blaze under control.
Foreign victims and what’s next
Foreign nationals were among the dead, with Euronews saying the Press Trust of India reported foreigners mainly from Central Asia and Africa, while Xinhua said the deceased foreign nationals were from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique and Liberia.
“New Delhi - At least 21 people were killed by a fire that tore through a hotel in India's capital city on Wednesday morning, police said”
Xinhua put the total death toll at 21 and said more than 40 were taken to nearby hospitals, while it reported that under the license granted the hotel was only allowed to have six rooms but was reportedly operating 25 rooms at the time of the incident.
Al Jazeera said the dead included people from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique and Liberia and reported that the fire took place on Wednesday in the Malviya Nagar neighborhood, with eight fire engines helping extinguish the blaze.
The BBC quoted fire officer AK Malik saying, "The fire was brought under control quite early on - it was contained very quickly," and said Delhi minister Ashish Sood was investigating whether the building had the necessary permissions.
BBC also reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees for the families of those killed and 50,000 rupees for those injured, as the Delhi Police registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against unknown persons.
