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18 foreigners among 21 dead in Delhi Malviya Nagar fire; victims from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Africa
As per people close to the matter, the victims were identified as nationals from Nigeria, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Somalia, Liberia, and Afghanistan.
Among the 21 killed in a deadly fire in Delhi's Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning, people familiar with the matter have stated that at least 18 were foreign nationals.
As per people close to the matter, the victims were identified as nationals from Nigeria, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Somalia, Liberia, and Afghanistan.
On Wednesday morning, a fire erupted in a five-storey bed and breakfast building in Malvya Nagar's Hauz Rani area.
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As per initial reports, the fire was suspected to have been caused by a cylinder blast. However, as the investigation into the fire continues, officials suspect a short circuit caused the blaze. Officials earlier said the fire started around 8.30 am at the nearby Lemon Green Restaurant, but police later clarified that it had started in the hotel building.
The building has a basement, ground floor and five upper floors. The restaurant was being operated on the ground floor, while the rest of the building was being used as a hotel, fire officer A K Malik told news agency PTI.
According to the police, around 10 police personnel were also injured while extinguishing the fire and during the rescue operation.
"Without thinking even for a moment, police personnel launched an immediate rescue work. Our teams rushed to the spot after the PCR call was received," the officer told PTI.
The injured personnel were Head Constables Kartar (32), Hargyan (40), Prem Chand (40), Jitendra (40) and Dinesh (35), and Constables Vikram (34), Deepak (38), Rampal (30), Sandeep (30) and Raviranjan (26).
