Arrests made after building fire in India kills at least 27

At least 27 people have died in a massive fire at a four-story commercial building in India's capital Delhi.

Police have arrested two owners of a company that manufactures and sells security cameras after the blaze reportedly started in their four-story office building.

At least 50 people were rescued from the building, and 12 others injured.

The building had no clearance from the fire department and it was not equipped with fire safety equipment like extinguishers, said Atul Garg, director of Delhi Fire Services.

Fires are common in India, where building laws and safety norms are often flouted by builders and residents. In 2019, a fire caused by an electrical short circuit engulfed a building in New Delhi and killed 43 people.

Mr Garg said the fire started on the first floor of the building on Friday evening and spread quickly to other areas where inflammable plastic material used to manufacture equipment including security cameras and a large quantity of cardboard used for packaging were stored.

The building is located in the Mundka area in western New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the loss of lives and wished for the speedy recovery of the 12 injured who have been hospitalised.

Sachin Garg, a resident in the area, said the building had only one exit door, and people trapped there found it difficult to leave quickly because of a crush.

"They called ambulances and fire officials used crane buckets to rescue people,” he said.

Satbir Lakra, another resident, said several men and women smashed glass walls and jumped to the ground floor.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know... 

27 fire engines doused the flames after battling for more than five hours. A search operation continued overnight to look for anyone trapped in the rubble, the fire control room said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear and is being investigated.

Mr Garg said there were conflicting reports. Some said the fire started after an explosion in an air-conditioner and others said it was triggered by an electric short-circuit.