Tata Unit Reports Extensive Data Center Damage Following Delhi Fire

NEW DELHI — A major fire that broke out at a high-capacity data center in New Delhi on June 5, 2026, has left several major technology firms and corporate clients struggling to recover lost information, with operators warning of significant challenges in system restoration.

The facility, co-owned by Tata Communications and Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), suffered what company officials described as "extensive damage" to key infrastructure. The fire, which originated in a battery room on the third floor of the site in the early hours of June 5, prompted emergency service responses and triggered widespread internet traffic disruptions across the National Capital Region.

Challenges in Data Recovery

Nearly three weeks after the initial incident, the recovery process remains stalled for several tenants. Matrix Cellular, a prominent provider of international SIM cards and a client at the facility, confirmed to media outlets that it is struggling to regain access to more than 20 years of accumulated business and operational data.

In a correspondence dated June 15 and reviewed by news agencies, the Tata Communications unit, Novamesh, informed clients that the severity of the fire damage presents "significant challenges to the recovery of the affected data and systems." The letter emphasized that despite ongoing efforts, the physical destruction of server racks and electrical infrastructure has hindered standard restoration protocols.

Impact on Digital Infrastructure and Google

The incident’s ripple effects have extended well beyond individual business losses. The facility hosted equipment used by some of the world's largest technology platforms. Google Cloud reported intermittent network disruptions and increased latency in India following the emergency power shutdown required to manage the fire.

Industry experts noted that the fire affected a substantial number of server racks, some of which were utilized for critical peering arrangements. Following the outage, internet traffic in the region had to be rerouted, leading to increased operational costs and temporary performance degradation for various local internet service providers (ISPs).

Official Statements and Investigation

While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, preliminary reports from local fire authorities suggest the blaze began in a lithium battery unit.

ST Telemedia GDC India stated that they activated business continuity protocols immediately following the alarm, which was received by the Delhi Fire Service at approximately 2:45 a.m. The company has maintained that it is working closely with affected customers to facilitate business continuity and relocation arrangements, though they have declined to comment on the specific commercial value of the damaged equipment or individual client configurations.

Why It Matters

For businesses, this event underscores the fragility of centralized data storage. The inability to recover two decades of data serves as a stark reminder of the limitations of disaster recovery plans when physical hardware is entirely destroyed. Investors and corporate clients are now scrutinizing the resilience of the co-location model, where multiple organizations house mission-critical infrastructure under a single roof.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Incident Date: The fire broke out at approximately 2:45 a.m. on June 5, 2026, in a Delhi data center.

• Infrastructure Damage: Extensive destruction of server racks and electrical systems was reported on the third floor of the facility.

• Data Loss: Matrix Cellular reported potential loss of over 20 years of operational data.

• Operational Impact: Major platforms including Google Cloud experienced network disruptions and latency issues due to emergency power shutdowns.

• Official Status: Investigations into the cause are ongoing, with preliminary findings pointing to the facility’s battery room.

FAQ

What caused the fire?

According to local fire authorities, the fire originated in a lithium battery room on the third floor of the data center. An official investigation into the exact cause is currently ongoing.

Are services back to normal?

While many ISPs and cloud providers have rerouted traffic to restore connectivity, many tenants remain unable to access data stored on the damaged equipment.

Why is data recovery so difficult?

The fire caused "extensive damage" to physical server racks and infrastructure. Officials have stated that this severity makes the recovery of data stored on the damaged physical media exceptionally challenging.

Who owns the data center?

The facility is part of a joint venture between India’s Tata Communications and Singapore’s ST Telemedia Global Data Centres.

Source: Tata Communications, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres India, [Delhi Fire Service], [Reuters]