A fire swept through a building in New Delhi's Malviya Nagar neighborhood on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people and injuring several others, police said.

The blaze broke out in the morning at a structure that included a restaurant on the ground floor and a hotel or bed-and-breakfast facility above it. Reports identified the location in the southern part of the city, with some references to the Hauz Rani area. Firefighters responded with multiple tenders and rescued more than 40 people from the scene.

Many of the victims were foreign nationals, primarily from Central Asia and Africa. The fire caused significant damage, with some accounts noting dramatic escapes including people jumping from windows. Authorities have not released an official cause, though one report mentioned a possible cylinder blast as a suspected trigger.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance for the victims' families. Rescue operations continued into the day as officials assessed the full extent of the damage.

This incident marks one of the deadliest fires in the Indian capital in recent years. Local police confirmed the death toll and stated that investigations are underway.