New Delhi authorities have launched an immediate enforcement campaign against building code violations across the capital following a hotel fire that left 21 people dead, including 12 foreign nationals. <\/p>\n
The city government announced late Wednesday that it will conduct a comprehensive sweep of hospitality venues and commercial buildings to identify and shutter facilities failing to meet fire safety standards. The move follows the deadliest fire in the Indian capital since 2022, which broke out in the Malviya Nagar district.<\/p>\n
Police have arrested the owner of the building and initiated a criminal investigation into the incident. According to the New Delhi Chief Minister\u2019s office, any structures found in breach of safety regulations during the new inspections will be closed immediately, and those responsible will face prosecution.<\/p>\n
The four-story hotel was frequently used by international patients and their families seeking treatment at nearby medical facilities. Reports indicate the deceased include citizens from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Liberia. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that the ministry is coordinating with the relevant embassies to provide assistance to the victims’ families.<\/p>\n
Emergency responders rescued more than 40 people from the site, many of whom were transported to nearby hospitals. A spokesperson for the state-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) confirmed that the facility received 13 injured individuals, two of whom remain in critical condition.<\/p>\n
Preliminary reports suggest the blaze originated on the ground and first floors of the building, effectively trapping occupants on the upper levels. While the fire was brought under control by midday Wednesday, the scale of the casualties has triggered a rapid shift in the city’s regulatory stance toward urban safety enforcement.<\/p>\n