21 Dead in Delhi Hotel Fire, Majority of Victims Reportedly Foreign Nationals
Delhi Hotel fire kills 21, mostly foreigners. (Image video grab)
By AMIT KUMAR
A devastating fire at Lemon Green Restaurant-Hotel in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar has claimed at least 21 lives, mostly foreign tourists. Investigators are now probing allegations that the property operated far beyond its approved capacity.
New Delhi, June 3, 2026 — At least 21 people were killed and dozens injured after a devastating fire ripped through the Lemon Green Restaurant and hotel complex in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning, exposing what appear to be serious violations of building and fire safety norms.
The blaze broke out around 8:50 a.m. at the establishment located in the busy Malviya Nagar market area. According to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), emergency teams were dispatched within minutes, but the fire spread rapidly through the building, trapping guests and staff inside.
Chief Fire Officer Abhilash Malik said firefighters initially recovered six bodies from the basement before expanding rescue operations across the structure. A total of 37 people were rescued from the building, including several foreign nationals, while many of the injured were shifted to Safdarjung Hospital and other nearby medical facilities.
Visuals from the scene showed thick smoke billowing from the building as rescue workers used ladders and hydraulic equipment to reach trapped occupants. Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes, with some people attempting desperate escapes. A woman was seen jumping from an upper floor to save herself as flames engulfed parts of the structure.
Local resident Israr Khan, who participated in rescue efforts before emergency services fully secured the area, told PTI that residents rushed to help trapped guests. According to him, several people, including a child who jumped from a higher floor, were rescued and transported to hospitals.
As the death toll climbed to 21, investigators began examining whether unauthorized construction and overcrowding contributed to the scale of the disaster. Preliminary reports indicate that the property had approval for only six rooms but was allegedly operating as a 25-room hotel, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight and compliance with safety norms.
The tragedy has triggered a political debate over urban safety and enforcement failures in the national capital. Opposition groups accused authorities of neglecting fire safety infrastructure and failing to conduct regular inspections of commercial establishments.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the victims and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased person, while the injured will receive Rs 50,000.
The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of hotels, guest houses and commercial establishments operating in densely populated parts of Delhi. Investigators are expected to focus on building permissions, emergency exits, occupancy limits and fire safety compliance as they determine the cause of one of the city’s deadliest fire disasters in recent years.
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