A fire in a commercial building in India has killed at least 15 people, with British safety advisers set to investigate the blaze. The incident occurred in a multi-storey structure in the city of Delhi, where flames engulfed the upper floors late on Tuesday. Emergency services recovered 15 bodies from the scene, with several others injured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
British experts from the London Fire Brigade will travel to India to assist local authorities in determining the origin of the inferno. The move follows a request from the Indian government under a bilateral agreement on technical cooperation. The advisers will focus on structural safety and fire prevention measures.
The building, which housed offices and a restaurant, lacked adequate fire escapes and had been operating without a safety certificate, according to local officials. Witnesses reported that many victims were trapped on the upper floors because of locked emergency exits. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control.
This is the latest in a series of deadly fires in Indian commercial properties, highlighting persistent lapses in enforcement of building regulations. In 2022, a fire in a New Delhi factory killed 43 people. Critics argue that rapid urbanisation has outpaced safety standards.
The British team, comprising fire inspectors and engineers, is expected to arrive within 48 hours. Their findings will be shared with Indian authorities to improve fire safety protocols. The investigation is part of a broader partnership aimed at reducing disaster risks in rapidly developing economies.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the victims and promised strict action against those responsible for safety violations. The Delhi state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
The tragedy underscores the challenges of enforcing safety norms in a country where construction often bypasses regulations. With the British advisers’ involvement, there is hope that lessons from this incident will lead to more robust enforcement of building codes.
