3.6.2026
Nigerians and other nationals were among 21 people who died Wednesday when fire swept through a hotel they were staying in New Delhi, India.
The fire broke out in a building in the Malviya Nagar neighbourhood in the southern part of the city, which has a restaurant on the ground floor and a hotel above.
Out of the 21 killed in the hotel fire, 17 were foreign nationals from countries like Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh.
The blaze was extinguished with the help of eight fire engines, and more than 40 people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals, Delhi police said in a statement.
“It is with profound sorrow that 21 persons have been declared dead in this tragic incident,” the force said.
Several of those killed were visitors from African countries who had come to the city for medical treatment, the Indian Express and other local media reported. Many foreign patients travel to New Delhi for treatment and often stay in nearby residential accommodation during their visits.
Television footage showed two people jumping from a higher floor of the building, and several people trapped inside as flames and smoke swept through parts of the building. Local residents joined rescue efforts, helping evacuate people who couldn’t get out, and carrying some of the injured to safety.
“All concerned agencies remain deployed at the spot to ensure every possible assistance to those affected,” the force added.
Lovkesh Bajaj, the owner of the hotel, is on the run, sources said.
According to sources, Lovkesh and his partners owned three hotels within a 100-metre radius. All the hotels lacked the necessary licenses and documents. With agency reports