At least 21 people were killed and several others injured after a fire broke out in a multi-storey building in New Delhi on Wednesday, police said.
The building, located in the Malviya Nagar area of south Delhi, housed a restaurant on the ground floor and a hotel on the upper floors. The neighborhood is a densely populated residential area that is popular among students and young professionals.
According to Delhi Police, firefighters brought the blaze under control with the assistance of eight fire engines. More than 40 people were rescued from the building and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Television footage and images from the scene showed thick smoke rising from the building as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. Several people trapped inside were seen hanging from windows and calling for help while fire and smoke spread through parts of the structure.
Local residents joined rescue efforts, helping evacuate occupants and carrying some injured victims to safety.
Local media reported that some of those killed were foreign nationals who had travelled to India for medical treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the victims, according to a post by his office on X. The post also said the families of those killed would receive financial assistance of 200,000 rupees (about $2,088) each.