Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the devastating Malviya Nagar fire incident, as authorities continued rescue and relief operations at the site.

At least 21 people were killed after a massive fire broke out at a bed-and-breakfast hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar area. Officials said several of the victims were foreign nationals, primarily from Central Asian and African countries.

Reacting to the tragedy, Sandhu said he was "deeply distressed" by the fire at the hotel in Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar. In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor extended condolences to the families of those who died and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also condoled the deaths and said the Delhi government was closely monitoring the situation. She assured that all necessary medical assistance and support were being provided to the affected families.

"In this hour of grief Delhi Govt. stands firmly with the affected families. We remain committed to providing every possible support to those impacted by this tragedy," Gupta said.

What steps have authorities taken after the fire?

According to the chief minister, emergency response teams were mobilised immediately after information about the incident was received. Personnel from the Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), CATS Ambulance Services and other agencies launched rescue and relief operations at the site.

Gupta said the coordinated response helped rescue and evacuate several people trapped inside the affected premises.

Police, fire service personnel and civil administration teams remain deployed at the location as operations continue. Authorities are assessing the situation and extending assistance to victims and their families.

With PTI inputs