India building fire toll hits 29

The death toll in the New Delhi building fire tragedy has risen to 29, with the recovery of three more bodies in the past 12 hours, reports UNBofficials said on Saturday.

The blaze broke out on Friday evening on the first floor of a four-storey commercial building near the busy Mundka metro rail station in west Delhi and engulfed the entire structure within minutes. Thirty fire tenders took five hours to douse the flames.

"As many as 26 bodies, some charred beyond recognition, were pulled out of the building by firemen on Friday itself. Three more bodies were found this morning," a senior police officer told the local media.

"Fortunately, 60 people have been rescued by firefighters and cops from the building. Some 12 people with burn injuries are being treated at a hospital. The condition of some of them is critical," the officer said.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter last night to express grief at the loss of lives in the tragedy.

"Distressed by the tragic fire accident at a building near Mundka Metro Station in Delhi. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish for speedy recovery of the injured," the President‍‍`s office tweeted.

"Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire in Delhi. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery," Modi wrote.

"Two co-owners of the building have been arrested on charges of negligence and a probe initiated. The building did not have a fire clearance certificate," the police officer said.

Building fires are common in India, and are often attributed to poor maintenance and absence of basic fire safety systems. A number of people die in such fires in India every year.