Building fire kills 27 in New Delhi

Police in New Delhi arrested two people suspected of flouting fire safety regulations yesterday after at least 27 people died in a blaze at a building housing a manufacturing unit for surveillance cameras. Rescue teams worked overnight to clear the burnt out four-storey building near a railway station in the western suburbs. More than 75 people were in the building when the fire broke out on Friday evening. Some jumped from windows to save themselves, according to eyewitnesses, and firefighters broke the glass and rescued people with ropes. Authorities said fire started in an office on the first floor and spread rapidly. Two owners of the company were arrested as part of probe to identify suspected safety violations. Offering condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised Rs200,000 ($2,580) in compensation for the victims’ next-of-kin.