Restaurant fire in Delhi's Malviya Nagar kills at least 20 people

At least 20 people were killed and several others were rescued after a fire broke out at the Micasa Inn hotel in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning. The fire started at around 8.50 am in the basement of the five-storey building, prompting a large-scale emergency response. Authorities said multiple firefighting units were deployed after receiving a distress call from the location.

Officials stated that two water engines, two water bowsers, a quick-response vehicle and additional firefighting units were sent to the site to contain the blaze and carry out rescue operations. Preliminary information indicated that approximately 40 people were inside the building when the fire broke out. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

The hotel is located in the Hauz Rani area and includes a restaurant in its basement. According to local residents, the property has around 25 rooms and was accommodating nearly 40 guests at the time of the incident. Many of the guests were reportedly foreign nationals who had travelled to India for medical treatment. Authorities said most occupants were asleep when the fire began.

Videos from the scene showed some people jumping from the building in an attempt to escape the flames. Rescue teams evacuated several individuals while firefighting operations continued inside the structure. Emergency personnel conducted searches across different floors as part of the rescue effort.

Kesar Singh, a chef working in the hotel’s basement restaurant, said he was preparing for work when he noticed the emergency. According to his account, he attempted to switch on an electric stove at around 8.00 am and soon became aware of the fire. He said he alerted his assistant and managed to escape after observing that the building had already been engulfed by flames.