At least 21 people have died, and several others were injured after a fire tore through a multi-storey building in India.
The early morning incident happened in the building resulting in flames, its exterior charred trapping people on upper floors.
At the scene in Delhis Malviya Nagar around 8:30am on Wednesday, more than 40 individuals, many of them who are foreign nationals, were rescued and taken to hospital for medical intervention.
A fire service officer, AK Malik, said that the fire was brought under control quite early on, the building cleared and opened up for police investigation.
Delhi minister Ashish Sood stated that authorities are investigating whether the facility had the necessary permissions, warning that violations could lead to criminal action.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, expressed condolences and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees for families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for those injured
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as flames spread rapidly, forcing people to jump from upper floors onto mattresses laid out by bystanders to cushion their fall.
Local residents also recounted rescuing children and helping trapped victims escape before emergency crews arrived.
Authorities say investigations on building allegedly operated as a bed-and-breakfast catering to patients and their families from a nearby private hospital will continue, highlighting India’s recurring problem of lax enforcement of building safety laws.