At least 21 people lost their lives after a devastating fire broke out at the Lemon Green Restaurant in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday morning, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving multiple emergency response agencies.
According to Delhi Police, several people were trapped inside the restaurant when the fire erupted. Teams from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), Delhi Police, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) Ambulance Service rushed to the scene and launched an intensive rescue effort.
Delhi Fire Services officials said they received a distress call during the morning hours and immediately dispatched multiple firefighting units, including two water tenders, two water bowsers, a quick response vehicle, and additional emergency equipment.
Firefighters entered the smoke-filled building and conducted rescue operations, particularly in the basement area where several individuals were reportedly trapped. Injured victims were evacuated and shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
“A fire broke out at a restaurant in Malviya Nagar. Delhi Fire Services received a call and immediately dispatched firefighting units to the scene. Rescue operations were carried out and the injured were shifted to hospitals,” a senior fire department official said.
Divisional Officer Ravinder from the Nehru Place Fire Station supervised rescue and firefighting operations at the site.
Chief Minister Expresses Grief
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Gupta said emergency response agencies were mobilised immediately after information about the incident was received.
“The swift response of Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, DDMA, and CATS Ambulance teams helped rescue and evacuate several people from the affected premises,” she said.
Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the devastating fire incident in Malviya Nagar.
My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured and for strength & courage to all those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.…
— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) June 3, 2026
Expressing solidarity with the affected families, the Chief Minister added, “In this hour of grief, the Delhi Government stands firmly with the affected families. We remain committed to providing every possible support and medical assistance to those impacted by this tragedy.”
Investigation Underway
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Officials are examining whether fire safety violations, electrical faults, or other lapses may have contributed to the tragedy.
The exact number of people present inside the restaurant when the blaze broke out remains unclear. Search operations continued for several hours as emergency teams worked to ensure no one remained trapped inside the structure.
Senior police officials, forensic teams, and fire investigators have reached the site to assess the extent of the damage and gather evidence.
Developing Story
Authorities are expected to release further details regarding the cause of the fire, the identities of the victims, and the findings of the preliminary investigation. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
