Kathmandu. At least 21 people have died and dozens have been injured in a fire at a luxury hotel in the Indian capital New Delhi, officials said.

Police have confirmed the incident as the deadliest fire in the capital in recent years. A fire broke out at Floris Stay, a bed-and-breakfast hotel, located in a crowded neighbourhood in south Delhi on Wednesday morning. Guests and staff inside the building were trapped as the fire spread rapidly.

More than 40 injured people have been admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment, police said. Eight fire engines were mobilized at the incident site and the fire was brought under control after a long time.

According to officials, 21 people were pronounced dead in the aftermath of the incident. Police and emergency services are still at the scene and further search and rescue operations are underway.

According to local media, many of the dead were foreigners from African countries. They had come to Delhi for treatment and other purposes. However, the full details of the dead have not been officially released.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident. A statement issued by his office on social media expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, police said. But in India, the main reasons for such incidents are short circuits, old and weak wires and ignoring safety standards.

Building fires are a common occurrence in India. At least 10 people were killed in a fire at a government hospital in eastern India in March, raising questions about the country’s building safety.

The latest incident in Delhi has once again highlighted the need to strictly enforce safety standards in hotels and residential buildings, which is expected to prevent huge loss of life.