World media reacts to Delhi hotel fire:Al Jazeera flags building safety gaps; BBC highlights disregard of rules

A fire at a hotel in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, on Wednesday morning claimed 21 lives, with most of the victims reported to be foreign nationals. Rescue teams evacuated around 40 people from the building, while more than six others were brought out from the basement during the operation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced ex gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased victim and ₹50,000 for those injured in the incident. The cause of the accident is not yet known. Media worldwide, from Britain to Germany, is covering this incident prominently. Read the reaction of the world media Qatar’s Al Jazeera wrote – Fire incidents are common in India The fire broke out in a building in Malviya Nagar, South Delhi, which had a restaurant on the lower floor and a hotel running above it. As soon as the fire broke out, the building filled with smoke, and many people got trapped inside. Eight fire tenders reached the spot and brought the fire under control. According to the police, more than 40 people were safely evacuated and taken to nearby hospitals. According to eyewitnesses, some people came to the windows to save their lives and were screaming for help. Local residents also assisted in the rescue operation and moved several injured people to safety before ambulances arrived. Fire incidents are common in India. Many buildings lack necessary safety arrangements, which leads to significant damage and loss of life when fires occur. British media BBC wrote – The deceased foreigners came to India for treatment Among those who died in the South Delhi building fire were several foreign nationals who had come to India for treatment. The building was being used as a guest house (bed and breakfast), where patients undergoing treatment at a nearby private hospital and their families used to stay. However, it is not yet clear how many people were present in the building at the time of the fire. A fire official said that the fire was brought under control very quickly and the building has now been handed over to the police. Delhi government minister Ashish Sood said that an investigation is underway to determine whether the building was permitted to be used as a guest house. If any negligence or violation of rules is confirmed, legal action will be taken against those responsible. According to eyewitnesses, the fire spread very rapidly, trapping people on the upper floors. Many people jumped from the second and third floors to save their lives. Local residents helped people jump by spreading mattresses on the road and safely evacuated many. Such fire incidents are frequently reported in India. Investigation reports have often cited poor electrical systems, disregard for safety regulations, and buildings operating in ways different from their designated use as major causes of such accidents. Spanish media El Pas wrote – Fire department received information about the fire late A massive fire broke out on Wednesday at the Flourish Stay Hotel located in the Malviya Nagar area of South Delhi. According to officials, the fire department received information about the fire late. The administration says that the fire must have started from the restaurant running on the lower floor of the hotel. However, the real cause of the fire has not yet been ascertained, and an investigation is underway. Several citizens from Central Asia and Africa are also said to be among the dead. These people had come to India for treatment or other work. In the pictures and videos of the incident, thick smoke rising from the hotel and high flames of fire were visible. Some people were also seen jumping from the upper floors to save their lives. Delhi is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Due to dense population, narrow streets, and lack of safety standards in many old buildings, incidents like fires often take a serious turn. Germany’s DW News suspected the fire was due to the restaurant A fire broke out in a hotel in South Delhi, which had a restaurant in its basement and a hotel above. After the fire, the entire hotel was filled with smoke, and many people got trapped inside. According to the police, 8 fire tenders were dispatched to the spot. More than 40 people were rescued during the operation. The administration says that the cause of the fire is not yet clear, but initial investigations suggest that the fire might have been caused by the restaurant. According to local media, some foreign nationals are also among the dead. These people had come to India for treatment. British media The Sun wrote – People had to jump from windows to save their lives The fire spread so rapidly in the South Delhi hotel that people trapped on the upper floors had to jump from windows and balconies to save their lives. Nearby residents laid mattresses on the road, which saved the lives of some people. Several fire department vehicles reached the spot, and the fire was brought under control after much effort. According to officials, a restaurant was operating on the ground floor of the building. Initial investigations suggest that the fire might have started there, although this has not been officially confirmed yet. Videos that surfaced on social media showed high flames and thick smoke emanating from the building. In one video, a woman was also seen jumping from the first floor to escape the fire. Officials stated that the deceased are being identified. Bangladesh’s Daily Star wrote – Rescue operation lasted for several hours More than 40 people were rescued and taken to the hospital after a fire broke out in a guest house in South Delhi. The rescue team conducted a rescue operation for several hours. According to media reports, some foreign nationals are also among the deceased. They had come to Delhi for treatment and were staying in the same guest house. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Police and other agencies are investigating the matter. ​