A massive fire erupted early morning today, within the basement of a restaurant in the Flourish Stay Hotel in the Malviya Nagar neighborhood in the capital Delhi, killing is a room, and burnt the adjoining room in the Micasa Inn hotel 21 people died and more 40 people were rescued by emergency teams in the area, the officials said.
The fire spread within minutes from the Flourish Stay restaurant to the Micasa Inn, which shares the same floor and hallway, officials confirmed over the phone. White cloud of thick smoke and flames illuminated six digits from the fire between 8:50 am. Fire crews also struggled to reach the upper stories of the Micasa Inn, which was also stifled by the smoke. The better part was the thick fire in the adjoining rooms.
The flames sprinkled towards the outside, and there was also no escape. “Then there was the smoke, and then it was like fading into smoke, and I heard people shouting for help,” the tourist recounted of the fire. “People were shouting for help. I could not see anyone moving in the stairwell. They must have either died or disappeared. And then somewhere the cries came. And then after that something fizzled out.”
Artificial flames are inflicting havoc in Delhi’s outskirts. Water tenders, convoy of rescue crew, fire rescue units, and ambulance were all deployed to control the blaze at the start.
Malviya fire: Witness account
A Congo national broke down in tears at the hospital. “They say my sister is dead.” Families were waiting for confirmation about other bodies at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket. More than 100 foreign nationals are feared to have died or sustained severe injuries in the incident. The families of foreign nationals were waiting for the identified bodies, and waiting for the news of the injured. Police confirmed 21 confirmed dead and 10 injured. The numbers were expected to rise as the investigators are yet to complete the autopsies.
#WATCH | Malviya Nagar fire | Delhi: A Congo national whose family members died in an incident, says, “…they say my sister is dead…” pic.twitter.com/maSjF5LmTA
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2026
How are authorities responding and what is the investigation status?
Officials confirmed that rescue operations have now concluded and the fire has been fully extinguished. Delhi Police has registered an FIR under charges of culpable homicide, while forensic teams are investigating the exact cause of the blaze. Preliminary focus remains on safety lapses, including emergency exits and fire compliance in the building structure. Authorities have also begun examining whether overcrowding and basement operations contributed to the high death toll.
The incident triggered strong political reactions, with opposition leaders questioning fire safety enforcement in the city. Public representatives demanded accountability, citing repeated incidents of urban fires and alleged negligence in safety regulations. As investigations continue, grieving families are still waiting outside hospitals for answers, while the capital reels from one of its deadliest fire tragedies in recent years.
ALSO READ: Malviya Nagar Restaurant Fire: What Caused Deadly Delhi Blaze That Claimed 21 Lives?
