21 Killed in Massive Fire at Delhi Restaurant
A devastating fire at a restaurant in Delhi claimed 21 lives and injured several others, prompting large scale rescue efforts and condolences from national leaders.
A major fire accident in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area resulted in the deaths of 21 people on Wednesday, triggering panic and a large scale emergency response. Authorities said several others were injured, while rescue teams continued searching the building for anyone who might still be trapped.
The fire broke out at the Lemon Green Restaurant located in the Hauz Rani area during the morning hours. According to officials, flames first emerged in the basement around 8.50 am before spreading rapidly through the structure, leaving many occupants with little time to escape.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as thick smoke and intense flames engulfed the building. Local residents rushed to help and spread mattresses on the ground to protect people attempting to jump from upper floors. One woman was reportedly forced to leap from the third floor while carrying a child.
Emergency teams, including police and fire personnel, arrived at the scene soon after receiving distress calls. Rescue operations were launched immediately, and several people were pulled out of the building before being shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
A chef working at the restaurant said the fire started suddenly while he was trying to switch on an electric stove. He claimed he immediately alerted other staff members, but the flames spread so quickly that the entire building was soon engulfed.
Officials revealed that some of the victims included foreign nationals who had reportedly arrived from Central Asia and Africa for medical treatment and were staying at the facility.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and conveyed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. He announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased victim and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the incident.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also expressed grief over the loss of lives and assured all possible support for those affected. Authorities have begun an investigation to determine the exact cause of the deadly fire.
