27 dead in fire in New Delhi, emergency services say


Twenty-seven people died in a fire in New Delhi on Friday May 13, Indian emergency services announced. “The fire is now extinguished. The total number of dead is 27. Search operations are ongoing“, said a fire department official to AFP.

Sunil Choudhary, deputy fire chief of Delhi, put the death toll slightly lower at 26. “More than 25 people are injured, including those who jumped from the buildingSunil Choudhary told AFP. The third floor of the building has yet to be searched and more corpses may be found there, CNN-News18 said, citing Delhi Fire Department Atul Garg. More than 40 people suffered burns and were hospitalized, according to media reports. About 60 to 70 people were rescued from the building, according to local media citing police.

The fire broke out in a four-storey commercial building in West Delhi in the late afternoon. The fire started on the first floor, which houses the offices of a company manufacturing security cameras and routers, NDTV said, citing police chief Sameer Sharma. About 30 fire engines were still on site, as well as ambulances. The Times of India reported that the owner of the building had been arrested.

Fires are common in India due to poor practices in the construction industry and lack of compliance with safety regulations. The Indian capital of twenty million people is currently experiencing a heatwave, with temperatures reaching up to 46 degrees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to the relatives of the victims. “Extremely saddened by the loss of life due to a tragic fire in Delhi. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to the injuredNarendra Modi wrote.



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