Somali Families Among Victims as Deadly Indian Guesthouse Fire Claims 21 Lives
At least 21 people have died after a fire tore through a multi-storey guesthouse in South Delhi housing foreign patients, including Somali families seeking medical treatment. Several Somali nationals were among those injured or unaccounted for as rescue operations continue.
A Somali couple tries to jump from a burning building in New Delhi during a deadly fire. (TRT Africa)
NEW DELHI (Somali Report) — Somali families seeking medical treatment abroad are among those caught in a devastating fire that killed at least 21 people and injured dozens more after flames engulfed a multi-storey guesthouse in South Delhi, Indian authorities and local sources said.
The blaze broke out early Wednesday in the Malviya Nagar area of the Indian capital, rapidly spreading through a building that was being used as a budget guesthouse for patients and relatives receiving treatment at nearby private hospitals. Many of the occupants were foreign nationals, including Somali patients who had travelled to India for specialised and affordable medical care.
India has become a major destination for Somali families seeking treatment for complex conditions due to lower costs and the proximity of high-quality private hospitals, particularly in New Delhi. The proximity of the affected building to a major hospital in Saket has made it a common lodging site for international patients and their caregivers.
Among those affected were Somali nationals staying in the building at the time of the fire. Witnesses and Somali community sources in Delhi said at least one Somali woman and her son from Nairobi were among those injured after jumping from upper floors to escape the flames. The boy reportedly suffered minor injuries, while the mother sustained serious fractures and is now in intensive care.
A Somali interpreter based in Delhi, Salmo Jama, told local media that an elderly Somali woman and her son were still unaccounted for hours after the fire, raising fears they may have been transferred to separate hospitals or remain among unidentified casualties.
Emergency responders rescued more than 40 people from the burning structure, but several victims were trapped inside as thick smoke and flames spread quickly through the building. Videos shared on social media showed people leaping from windows while rescue teams and local residents attempted to pull survivors to safety.
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Indian authorities confirmed that the fire eventually came under control after the deployment of multiple fire engines, but by then extensive damage had already been done. Officials said the death toll stood at 21, though identification of all victims was still ongoing, with several foreign nationals among the dead.
The building reportedly functioned as a low-cost accommodation facility for patients and their relatives, many of whom were undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals. Preliminary reports suggest that overcrowding and possible safety violations may have contributed to the scale of the tragedy. Investigators are also examining whether the guesthouse had valid fire safety clearance.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “tragic” and announced compensation for victims’ families and those injured. Local authorities have launched a formal investigation into the cause of the fire, which initial reports suggest may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, a common cause of building fires in India due to aging infrastructure and weak safety enforcement.
The disaster highlights the vulnerabilities faced by foreign patients and their families who travel to India’s growing medical tourism sector, where affordable treatment is often paired with informal or unregulated accommodation arrangements.
For Somali families, many of whom travel thousands of kilometres in search of lifesaving treatment, the tragedy underscores the risks that accompany medical travel abroad, particularly when staying in densely populated urban facilities with limited safety oversight.
As investigations continue, Somali community representatives in India are working with local authorities to identify victims and support affected families, while uncertainty remains over the final toll and the fate of several missing individuals.
About the Author
Mohamed Farah is a senior editor at Somali Report, based in London, covering geopolitics, trade, business, and security across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.