18 killed in massive fire at Delhi restaurant, rescue operation launched

At least 18 people were killed after a major fire broke out at the Lemon Green Restaurant in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday, triggering an extensive rescue operation by emergency services, according to police officials.

The blaze erupted during the morning hours, trapping several people inside the restaurant building. Firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the spot and worked to evacuate those caught in the fire.

Officials said the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received a distress call soon after the incident and immediately dispatched multiple firefighting units, including water tenders, water bowsers, a quick response vehicle and other emergency equipment. Rescue personnel entered different sections of the building, including the basement, to search for trapped occupants and bring them to safety.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed grief over the loss of lives and said the government was closely monitoring the situation. In a statement, she said teams from the Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) were mobilised immediately after the incident was reported.

“The swift response by emergency teams helped rescue and evacuate several people from the affected premises,” she said, while extending condolences to the families of the victims. The chief minister also assured that all necessary medical assistance and support would be provided to those affected.

Earlier reports from fire officials indicated that several people had been rescued and shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. However, as rescue operations progressed, authorities confirmed that the death toll had risen significantly.

Fire department personnel continued search operations throughout the day to ensure no one remained trapped inside the damaged structure. The exact number of people present in the restaurant when the fire broke out was not immediately known.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Police and fire officials have launched a probe to determine how the fire started and whether any violations of fire safety norms or other lapses contributed to the tragedy.

Authorities are also assessing the extent of damage caused by the incident as rescue and recovery efforts continue.