The devastating fire that ripped through a commercial building in New Delhi last week, killing 43 people, has prompted an inquiry that closely mirrors the UK's post-Grenfell reforms. British fire safety experts have been deployed to assist Indian authorities as the scale of the tragedy becomes clear.
The blaze, which started in a cramped electronics shop in the Mundka area, spread rapidly due to flammable materials and blocked fire escapes. Survivors recounted scenes of panic as workers found exits locked and windows barred. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams continue to search the rubble.
India's government has announced a judicial inquiry, but campaigners are already calling for urgent changes to building regulations. The parallels with the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017, which killed 72 people, are stark. Both tragedies exposed lax enforcement of fire codes, use of combustible materials, and profit prioritised over safety.
A team of four British fire safety inspectors arrived in Delhi on Tuesday. They will assist in identifying structural failures and advising on new safety protocols. The UK's Home Office confirmed their deployment was at the request of the Indian government. “We hope our experience can help prevent such a disaster from happening again,” said a spokesperson.
For working class families in both countries, the fear is the same. In the narrow lanes of Mundka, residents spoke of similar worries to those in London's Grenfell neighbourhood. “We knew it was dangerous,” said Rani Devi, whose nephew was killed. “But what choice do we have? There are no inspections, no one listens.”
The inquiry will examine whether builders used cheap cladding and whether local authorities ignored safety violations. India's building boom has seen a proliferation of high rises with little oversight. In the UK, the Grenfell disaster led to a ban on combustible cladding and a review of fire safety laws. But implementation has been slow, with many buildings still not compliant.
Labour unions have seized on the Delhi fire to highlight global failures in worker safety. “This is not just an Indian problem,” said Sarah Jones, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union. “Corporate greed and deregulation are a global threat. We stand with Indian workers demanding justice.”
The cost of safety upgrades is a bitter point. In the UK, leaseholders have faced massive bills for cladding removal. In India, small business owners say they cannot afford fire-resistant materials. The tragedy underscores the stark reality that safety is a luxury for many.
As the investigation proceeds, the families of the dead await answers. The British experts are expected to submit a preliminary report within weeks. But for those who lost loved ones, reform cannot come fast enough. “We don't want sympathy, we want action,” said a grieving mother. “We want our workplaces to be safe, for our children not to be afraid.”
The echoes of Grenfell are a reminder that some lessons are still being learned, and at a terrible cost.
