A fire at a commercial building in New Delhi has killed at least 15 people and injured several others, officials said on Wednesday. The blaze, which broke out in a poorly ventilated four-storey structure, is the latest in a series of deadly fires in India that highlight chronic lapses in safety standards. As Indian authorities launch an investigation, the incident has drawn attention to the UK’s fire safety regime, often cited as a benchmark for international best practices.
The fire began on the ground floor of a building used as a warehouse and office space, according to local police. Witnesses reported that the building lacked adequate fire escapes, and many victims were trapped on upper floors. Emergency services faced challenges accessing the narrow alleyway, a common hazard in dense urban areas across South Asia.
India has long struggled with enforcement of fire safety codes. A 2023 report by the Indian National Fire Service College found that fewer than 20 percent of commercial buildings in major cities comply with basic fire safety norms. The country records roughly 25,000 fire-related deaths annually, according to the World Health Organisation.
In contrast, the United Kingdom has dramatically reduced fire fatalities through a combination of robust legislation, independent inspection, and public awareness. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires responsible persons in non-domestic premises to carry out fire risk assessments and implement preventive measures. The regime is enforced by local fire and rescue authorities, which conduct routine audits and have the power to issue prohibition notices.
British standards emphasise compartmentation: fire-resistant walls, doors, and floors that contain flames. The UK also mandates building-specific evacuation plans, automatic fire detection systems, and regular drills. Since 2000, fire deaths in England have fallen by more than 50 percent, reaching a low of 250 in 2023.
International observers have pointed to the UK’s approach as a model for developing economies. The World Bank has funded pilot projects in Bangladesh and Kenya that adopt British-style risk assessment frameworks. For India, the challenge is less about establishing standards and more about implementation. Building inspectors are often understaffed, and corruption can undermine enforcement.
“The UK’s success is not just in writing rules but in creating a culture of compliance,” said Dr. Amrita Sen, a fire safety researcher at the University of Cambridge. “India’s federal structure means that fire services fall under state jurisdiction, leading to inconsistent application. The central government could incentivise states to adopt uniform codes.”
In response to the Delhi fire, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a national review of fire safety protocols. A statement from his office said the government would “take lessons from global best practices, including the UK.”
Britain’s Home Office has previously offered technical assistance to New Delhi. In 2022, a delegation of British fire safety experts visited India to conduct workshops on risk assessment and enforcement. The visit was part of a broader UK-India partnership on urban resilience.
But critics argue that British standards must be adapted to local realities. Informal construction, aging electrical wiring, and lack of firefighting equipment remain pervasive in Indian cities. “You cannot simply transplant a system built in a post-industrial economy into a rapidly urbanising one,” cautioned Ravi Agarwal, a planner at the Indian Institute of Technology. “We need low-cost solutions: community fire wardens, public awareness campaigns, and simpler building codes.”
The tragedy comes as India prepares to host the G20 summit later this year. Security and safety are high on the agenda, with fire prevention expected to be a key talking point for infrastructure discussions. For now, the families of the 15 victims demand answers as investigators piece together how the blaze spiralled into disaster.
As the UK’s fire safety regime is held up as a gold standard, the question remains whether India can bridge the gap between policy and practice before more lives are lost.
