Deadly Delhi hotel fire kills 21, mostly foreign medical tourists
A fire at a budget hotel in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar district has killed at least 21 people, including multiple foreign nationals seeking medical treatment in India, according to police and local media. The blaze broke out early Wednesday morning in the four-storey building, which authorities describe as a "guest house" popular with international patients drawn by nearby super-specialty hospitals. Rescue teams recovered 21 bodies from the charred structure, while at least 12 others were hospitalised with severe burns and smoke inhalation .
The hotel’s website advertised its proximity to a "super-specialised hospital," a selling point for medical tourists, many of whom were among the victims. Delhi Police have launched an investigation into possible safety violations, including allegations that the building lacked proper fire exits and extinguishers. Local officials confirmed the structure had no valid occupancy certificate, raising questions about regulatory oversight in the city’s booming medical tourism sector.
Witnesses reported hearing screams from trapped guests as flames engulfed the narrow stairwell, the only escape route. Firefighters battled the blaze for over three hours before bringing it under control. The incident ranks among Delhi’s deadliest fires in recent years, surpassing a 2019 blaze at a coaching centre that killed 17 students.
Authorities have not yet released the nationalities of the foreign victims, but Indian media report that medical tourists from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and African nations frequently stay in such budget accommodations. The Delhi government has announced compensation of ₹500,000 (€5,500) for the families of each deceased victim, while the city’s chief minister has ordered a safety audit of all guest houses in the capital.
The tragedy underscores persistent fire safety failures in India’s urban centres, where rapid construction often outpaces enforcement of building codes. In 2023, a fire at a gaming arcade in Gujarat killed 27 people, prompting national outrage over lax safety standards. Delhi’s fire department has faced criticism for understaffing and outdated equipment, with only 3,000 personnel serving a population of 30 million.
- digi24
- helsingin sanomat
- thejournal
- faz
- nrc
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