Nigeria, Mozambique, Liberia nationals among 21 people killed in New Delhi hotel fire

At least 18 foreign nationals were among the 21 people killed in a fire at a hotel in the Indian capital Delhi on Wednesday, local media outlets reported.

The dead include nationals of Nigeria, Mozambique and Liberia, according to reports.

India's foreign ministry is in touch with the embassies concerned and is extending all necessary assistance, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Indian police have arrested the owner of the hotel as investigators probe safety failures. Police said owner Lavkesh Bajaj was arrested late Wednesday, hours after the blaze gutted the building.

Building fires in India are common due to a lack of firefighting equipment and routine disregard for safety regulations.

Popular among patients

The blaze - the deadliest the city has seen since 2022 - broke out at a hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar, which media said was popular among patients being treated at a hospital nearby and their relatives.

A city-wide crackdown will be undertaken against all guest houses and other establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building by-laws, the chief minister's office said in a post on X late on Wednesday.

Non-compliant premises will be sealed and those responsible prosecuted, it said.