At least 21 people are dead and around 40 others are injured after a massive fire ripped through a building in India’s capital, turning a hotel and restaurant into a scene of panic, smoke, and desperate escape.

The deadly blaze broke out Wednesday morning, June 3, in the Malviya Nagar neighborhood of New Delhi. According to the Delhi Fire Service, the first emergency call came in around 9:45 a.m. local time. Within minutes, fire crews were rushing toward a building that housed a restaurant on the ground floor and a hotel above it.

Eight fire trucks were sent to the scene as flames swallowed the structure and thick smoke poured into the air.

Authorities said around 40 people were rescued and rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. But for at least 21 victims, help came too late.

Photos from the scene captured the terror unfolding in real time. The building appeared engulfed in flames as trapped people reportedly hung from windows, screaming for help. Other images showed residents and rescuers carrying survivors away from the burning building while firefighters battled through heavy smoke and intense heat.

Officials told The Independent that some people jumped from windows in a desperate attempt to escape the inferno.

According to AP News, some of the victims were foreign nationals who had traveled to New Delhi for medical treatment, adding another heartbreaking layer to the disaster.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded publicly after the tragedy, offering condolences to the families of those killed and support for the injured.

“The loss of lives due to a fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, is tragic,” Modi wrote on X. “My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected.”

Modi also announced financial assistance for victims’ families, saying the next of kin of those killed would receive 200,000 rupees, equal to about $2,092.

The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed. Officials were still working to determine how the blaze began and whether safety violations may have contributed to the devastating death toll.

The disaster has left families searching for answers and a community in shock as rescue teams continue to assess the full scale of the destruction.