Rahul Gandhi, Kharge mourn 20 dead in Malviya Nagar fire, urge Congress aid
Synopsis
A morning fire at Malviya Nagar's Lemon Green Restaurant has killed at least 20 and injured dozens, triggering condolences from Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. With 37 rescued and a search still underway, the Congress leadership has pressed the Delhi government for swift compensation and medical care — a familiar demand after yet another NCR fire tragedy.
Key Takeaways
At least 20 people were killed in a fire at Lemon Green Restaurant , Malviya Nagar , on 3 June .
37 people have been rescued and hospitalised; a search for others continues.
Ten fire tenders from Delhi Fire Services brought the blaze under control.
Mallikarjun Kharge , Rahul Gandhi , and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed condolences and urged Congress workers to assist victims.
Kharge called on the Delhi government to ensure timely compensation and medical care for the injured.
Congress leaders on Wednesday, 3 June, expressed grief over the 20 lives lost in a devastating fire at the Lemon Green Restaurant in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, with party President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra calling the tragedy ‘extremely heartbreaking’. The leaders urged Congress workers across the capital to step up relief efforts for the injured and the families of the deceased.
What happened in Malviya Nagar
A massive blaze tore through the multi-storied Lemon Green Restaurant on Wednesday morning, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens more, officials said. So far, 37 people have been rescued and shifted to hospitals, while a search for others trapped in the building is still underway.
Senior officials from Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services, and rescue agencies are stationed at the site and monitoring operations. Ten fire tenders were dispatched soon after the alert and brought the flames under control, though officials confirmed the structural damage was extensive.
What the Congress leadership said
Kharge said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news. ‘My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured,’ he wrote in a post on X. He urged the Delhi government and authorities to ensure ‘adequate and timely compensation, including prompt medical care to the victims’, and asked Congress workers to extend ‘every possible help and support’.
Rahul Gandhi, in his own X post, called the incident ‘extremely heartbreaking’. ‘I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families. I urge all Congress workers to contribute in every possible way to the relief and rescue operations,’ he said, adding that he hoped for ‘the swift recovery of the injured’.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed the sentiment, describing the deaths and injuries of ‘nearly three dozen or more’ as ‘extremely heartbreaking’. ‘May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the swift recovery of the injured,’ she wrote, also appealing to party workers to mobilise on the ground.
A recurring pattern of fire tragedies
The Malviya Nagar incident adds to a grim run of commercial-building fires in the National Capital Region, often linked to fire safety lapses in restaurants, coaching centres, and mixed-use premises. Investigators are yet to confirm the cause of the blaze or whether the establishment had a valid no-objection certificate from fire authorities.
What happens next
Search and recovery operations are continuing, and a formal probe into the cause of the fire is expected. Compensation announcements from the Delhi government and any audit of fire safety compliance at the restaurant will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
From Mundka to Karol Bagh, each followed by the same script of compensation, condolences, and forgotten audits. The real accountability question is not who tweeted what, but whether Lemon Green Restaurant had a valid fire NOC and whether the civic machinery enforces existing safety norms in mixed-use buildings. Until that loop closes, the next tragedy is a matter of when, not if.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Lemon Green Restaurant in Malviya Nagar?
A massive fire broke out at the multi-storied Lemon Green Restaurant in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, on the morning of 3 June, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens. Officials said 37 people have been rescued and hospitalised, while a search for others trapped inside is still underway.
How did Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge react to the Delhi fire?
Both leaders called the tragedy ‘extremely heartbreaking’ and expressed condolences to the bereaved families in posts on X. They also urged Congress workers across Delhi to extend every possible help to the injured and the families of the deceased.
How many fire tenders were deployed at the scene?
Delhi Fire Services dispatched ten fire tenders soon after receiving the alert, and the blaze was brought under control. However, officials said the damage to the building was extensive.
What has the Congress demanded from the Delhi government?
Kharge has urged the Delhi government and authorities to provide adequate and timely compensation to the victims, along with prompt medical care for the injured. Congress leaders have also asked party workers to support relief and rescue efforts on the ground.
