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Delhi Hotel Fire: Locals Risk Lives in Daring Rescue
3 Jun
Summary
- Brave locals used mattresses to help guests escape.
- The hotel lacked emergency exits and accessible windows.
- Many guests were foreign nationals seeking medical treatment.
A devastating fire broke out early on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in a five-storey hotel in Delhi's Hauz Rani neighbourhood, rapidly spreading smoke across multiple floors. Responding with remarkable courage, local residents initiated rescue efforts before official emergency services arrived. They utilized mattresses to create safe landing zones for guests jumping from windows, with some residents directly pulling victims to safety.
The building, reportedly housing many foreign nationals on medical visas due to its proximity to Max Hospital, presented significant challenges for escape. Its single entry-exit point and the absence of an emergency staircase hampered both guest egress and rescue operations. Many rooms lacked windows or had jammed ones, trapping occupants inside.
Eyewitness accounts describe a scene of intense panic and desperation, with residents bravely entering the smoke-filled building to aid those inside. Some rescuers performed CPR on victims, while others carried unconscious individuals to safety. The incident highlighted the vulnerabilities of similar multi-storey buildings in the area, many lacking adequate fire safety equipment, prompting concern among other lodge guests.
