A massive fire erupted Friday evening in a four-storey commercial building in the Indian capital, killing at least 27 people and leaving several injured.
Dozens of people have been rescued from the building, which primarily contains shops. The building is located in the Mundka area in western New Delhi.
The Press Trust of India news agency said 12 people suffered burns in the fire and 50 were evacuated from the building.
Twenty-seven fire engines doused the flames after battling for more than five hours. A search operation continued to look for anyone trapped in the rubble.
Cause not immediately clear
The cause of the fire and other details were not immediately available.
"Distressed by the tragic fire accident at a building near Mundka Metro Station in Delhi. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish for speedy recovery of the injured," Indian President Ram Nath Kovind posted on Twitter.
Distressed by the tragic fire accident at a building near Mundka Metro Station in Delhi. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish for speedy recovery of the injured.
—Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was extremely saddened by the loss of lives.
Fires are common in India, where building laws and safety norms are often flouted by builders and residents.
In 2019, a fire caused by an electrical short circuit engulfed a building in New Delhi and killed 43 people.
