A catastrophic fire ripped through a four-storey building in the Indian capital Delhi overnight, killing at least 21 people, among them foreign nationals. The UK government has offered consular assistance as families in Britain await news of loved ones. The blaze, which broke out in a paint and chemical factory in the crowded Alipur neighbourhood, is the deadliest in Delhi since 2019 when a similar inferno claimed 43 lives.
Firefighters battled for hours to contain the flames as trapped workers screamed from upper floors. Survivors spoke of locked exits and a lack of sprinklers. The tragedy shines a harsh light on the underground economy of migrant labour, where safety takes a back seat to profit.
For families in the UK with relatives working in Delhi's unregulated factories, the wait for confirmation of their fate is agonising. The Foreign Office is in contact with Indian authorities. A spokesperson said: 'We stand ready to support any British nationals affected.
' But for those left behind, the consolation is cold. The real story is of a global race to the bottom on safety standards, where a workers life is worth less than a tin of paint.
