Malviya Nagar fire: 21 dead, 47 rescued from Lemon Green restaurant blaze
Synopsis
A devastating fire at Malviya Nagar's Lemon Green Restaurant has killed 21 and injured 26, with rescuers from Delhi Police themselves among the hospitalised. Some victims jumped from height to escape. PM Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia as condolences poured in from Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal.
Key Takeaways
21 people died and 47 were rescued in the Lemon Green Restaurant fire in Malviya Nagar , south Delhi.
26 patients are undergoing treatment; rescue operation concluded at 12:12 pm on Wednesday.
AIIMS Delhi received 13 patients , including 10 Delhi Police personnel injured during rescue.
Three victims reportedly jumped from a height to escape the blaze.
PM Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for families of the deceased.
At least 21 people died and 47 were rescued after a massive fire engulfed the multi-storied Lemon Green Restaurant in Malviya Nagar, south Delhi, on Wednesday morning, officials confirmed. Of those pulled out, 26 are undergoing treatment, with several in critical condition, according to Sub-Divisional Magistrate (South Delhi) Jitender Kumar.
Rescue operation timeline
SDM Kumar said the search and rescue effort concluded at 12:12 pm on Wednesday. ‘A total of 47 people were rescued, out of which 21 have died, and 26 are undergoing treatment,' he said in a statement to reporters.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, said it had received 13 patients from the site. Three of them sustained injuries after reportedly jumping from a height in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.
Police personnel among the injured
In a striking detail, the AIIMS Trauma Centre confirmed that 10 of the 13 patients are rescuers — all of them Delhi Police personnel who were injured while pulling people out of the burning building. Three bodies have been shifted to the hospital's Burns and Plastic Surgery Department.
Political response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing distress over the tragedy, announced ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh to the families of the deceased from the PMNRF, according to official communication.
Home Minister Amit Shah, in a post on X, said: ‘My heart is deeply grieved by the fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi. The local administration is engaged in relief and rescue operations.' He added that the injured were being provided ‘the best medical facilities' and prayed for their swift recovery.
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi called the incident ‘extremely heartbreaking' and urged Congress workers to contribute to the relief effort. ‘I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families,' he wrote on X.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal flagged a broader concern. ‘The continuous fire incidents in Delhi and the deaths of innocent people are extremely concerning,' he said in a post on X.
A recurring pattern
The Malviya Nagar blaze adds to a grim list of fire tragedies in the capital in recent years, repeatedly raising questions about building safety norms, emergency exits, and enforcement at commercial establishments. Investigators are expected to examine fire-clearance compliance and structural escape routes at the Lemon Green premises.
What happens next
A formal probe into the cause of the fire is underway. Authorities are expected to release the identities of the deceased after post-mortem formalities, while the conditions of those admitted at AIIMS and other hospitals are being monitored.
Point of View
Repetitive ledger of commercial-building blazes where fire-safety clearances, escape routes, and enforcement collapse together. That ten of the injured at AIIMS are Delhi Police rescuers tells its own story about how thin the first-response margin is. The political condolences will fade in 48 hours; what won't fade, unless something changes, is the structural rot — illegal expansions, blocked exits, lapsed NOCs — that makes the next tragedy a question of when, not if. Accountability must extend beyond ex-gratia to the licensing chain.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Malviya Nagar fire?
A massive fire broke out at the multi-storied Lemon Green Restaurant in Malviya Nagar, south Delhi, on Wednesday morning, killing 21 people and injuring 26. A total of 47 people were rescued before the search operation concluded at 12:12 pm.
How many people were taken to AIIMS Delhi?
AIIMS Delhi received 13 patients from the fire site, including 10 Delhi Police personnel who were injured during rescue operations. Three of the patients had jumped from a height to escape the flames, and three bodies were shifted to the Burns and Plastic Surgery Department.
What compensation has been announced for the victims?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh to the families of those who died in the fire. The injured are being provided medical care at AIIMS and other Delhi hospitals.
How did political leaders react to the tragedy?
Home Minister Amit Shah called the incident deeply grieving and confirmed that the local administration was engaged in relief and rescue. Rahul Gandhi termed it ‘extremely heartbreaking' and urged Congress workers to assist, while AAP's Arvind Kejriwal flagged the rising frequency of fire incidents in Delhi as a serious concern.
What is the cause of the Lemon Green Restaurant fire?
The cause of the fire has not yet been officially established and is under investigation. Authorities are expected to examine fire-safety clearances, escape route compliance, and structural conditions at the premises.
