At least 21 people died after a fierce blaze tore through the five-storey Lemon Green Restaurant building in Malviya Nagar, south Delhi, on the morning of 3 June 2025, with rescuers describing the structure as a “chimney” that funnelled smoke and heat across every floor. Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials said a single staircase, a lift and sealed surroundings left occupants with no viable escape route.

How the blaze unfolded

DFS Public Relations Officer A.K. Malik said the first distress call was received at around 8:50 am, after which multiple firefighting units were dispatched to the site. Crews launched simultaneous firefighting and rescue operations, pulling out trapped occupants while battling thick smoke inside the building.

“We rescued a total of 37 people from the spot. They were shifted to nearby hospitals via PCR vans or CATS ambulances. Our teams are still deployed and are collecting information from different hospitals,” Malik said.

Hospital toll

According to officials, Max Hospital admitted 38 people, of whom 18 died and 20 are injured. AIIMS said 13 patients were brought in, with three succumbing to their injuries. Authorities said the toll could shift as more information is collated from different facilities.

Why the structure became a death trap

Describing conditions inside, Malik said, “The building is five-storey. They were running a licensed B&B. The building had one staircase and a lift. There was no way to enter the building, and the windows were also of no help. Buildings like these act like a chimney, which leads to heat and smoke spreading to the entire building premises and no way to escape.”

Fire officials said the design accelerated vertical smoke spread, trapping guests on upper floors. The premises reportedly housed around 22 rooms used for accommodation, with two additional rooms on the terrace serving as storage. Search teams continued combing the building until they were satisfied no one remained inside.

Government response and inspections ordered

Delhi Minister Ashish Sood visited the site and directed the concerned DC and SDM to immediately inspect similar establishments across the city for illegal construction, unauthorised operations or licensing irregularities, Malik said. The minister has reportedly sought a compliance report by the evening.

This is among the deadliest building fires in the capital in recent years, evoking memories of the 2019 Anaj Mandi blaze that killed 43, and the 2022 Mundka fire that claimed 27 lives — incidents that repeatedly exposed gaps in fire safety enforcement for mixed-use buildings.

What happens next

The cause of the fire is now being investigated by the Delhi Police, with the building formally handed over after the final search. “The cause behind this will be investigated by the Delhi Police. We have conducted the final search and handed over the entire building to Delhi Police,” Malik said. A wider safety audit of similar commercial-cum-residential establishments is expected to follow.