A massive blaze at a factory in New Delhi's Anaj Mandi district claimed at least 43 lives on Sunday morning, police reported. Some 50 people are believed to have been injured and rushed to 4 hospitals in the Indian capital.
A rescue operation is underway, as even more people are feared to be trapped in the building.
According to local media reports, the fire broke out in an "illegal plastic factory running inside a house", and quickly spread, engulfing two other houses.
In the meantime, firemen on the scene told a Sputnik correspondent that the dead and injured include 65 people and the toll may rise. They added that a short circuit is believed to have caused the fire in the early morning hours.
Meanwhile, hundreds of shocked people have gathered at the site and dozens of ambulances and fire engines were pressed into service. By 10:00 a.m. the rescue operation was over and the fire extinguished.
According to The Times of India, most of the casualties were workers sleeping inside the facility after the flames erupted. The owner of the building, meanwhile, has been detained by the authorities.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
"The fire in Delhi's Anaj Mandi on Rani Jhansi Road is extremely horrific. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. Wishing the injured a quick recovery. Authorities are providing all possible assistance at the site of the tragedy", he wrote on Twitter.
Other members of the government also commented on the fire. In the meantime, the owner of the building was detained by the authorities.
Delhi state chief Arvind Kejriwal has announced a magisterial inquiry into the Delhi fire, adding that the authorities will provide compensation in the amount of 1 million rupees (about $14,000) for the families of the dead and 100,000 rupees (about $1,400) for the wounded.