Data Center Fire in Delhi Disrupts Google Cloud and Damages Key Client Operations

A severe fire broke out at a five-storey data center facility in Delhi, jointly operated by Tata Communications and ST Telemedia, on June 5, 2026. The incident caused extensive physical destruction, including the collapse of ceiling panels and the burning of critical server infrastructure. Initial investigations by local authorities suggest the fire originated in the facility’s lithium battery storage units.

The disruption has had significant repercussions for several clients. Matrix Cellular, a provider of international SIM cards, reported the potential loss of two decades of accumulated business data. Google Cloud also experienced network performance issues, reporting that the emergency shutdown of networking equipment isolated a local Point of Presence (POP) in the Delhi metro area. Other service providers, such as R2 Net, have projected potential revenue losses reaching $2 million due to the service outage and the compromise of tracking data.

Despite the activation of business continuity protocols, Tata Communications has reported significant challenges in restoring the affected systems. In a communication addressed to impacted clients, the company highlighted the severity of the infrastructure damage, casting doubt on the full recovery of lost data. The incident underscores the vulnerabilities in critical digital infrastructure and raises concerns regarding the reliability of physical storage facilities amidst the increasing demand for high-capacity data centers in India.