‘In touch with embassies’: Jaishankar condoles Delhi hotel fire deaths, says MEA assisting foreign victims

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday expressed condolences over the loss of lives, including foreign nationals, in the devastating fire at a hotel in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar and said the ministry of external affairs (MEA) is coordinating with embassies and extending all necessary assistance.The massive blaze broke out at the Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani around 8.30 am, killing at least 21 people and injuring several others.Officials said 58 people were rescued from the five-storey building and taken to hospitals, where 21 were declared brought dead.“Express my deepest condolences at the loss of lives, including of foreign nationals, in the tragic fire incident in Malviya Nagar, New Delhi. Pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.“MEA is in touch with Embassies and is extending all necessary assistance,” he added.The dead include over 10 foreign nationals. Most of the foreign victims were reportedly from Bangladesh, Liberia, Nigeria and Mozambique.The Bangladesh High Commission also conveyed condolences to the affected families and said five Bangladeshi nationals had been identified among the injured.In a statement on X, the mission said three injured Bangladeshis were being treated at Max Hospital in Saket, while two others were recovering at Safdarjung Hospital.Defence minister Rajnath Singh also expressed grief over the tragedy.“The fire tragedy in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences go out to those who lost their loved ones in this incident. I pray to the Almighty to give them the strength to bear this immense loss. I also wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Singh said.Officials warned that the death toll could rise further as several injured victims remain in critical condition.Eight patients are on ventilator support at Max Hospital. Medical director Dr Sandeep Budhiraja said most victims suffered severe smoke inhalation injuries, while one patient with burns covering more than 25 per cent of the body was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital's specialised burn unit.The doctor also said several victims sustained fractures after reportedly jumping from upper floors to escape the flames.As investigators probe the incident, police officials told news agency PTI that the establishment had permission to operate only six rooms under Delhi's bed-and-breakfast policy but was allegedly functioning with around 25 rooms, including rooms set up in the basement.The tragedy has also triggered political criticism over the emergency response. Former AAP MLA Somnath Bharti alleged that fire tenders arrived nearly an hour after the blaze broke out despite a fire station being located nearby.Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav and AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj also alleged lapses in fire safety enforcement and response mechanisms.The fire is among the deadliest incidents reported in the national capital in recent years.