NEW DELHI, JUN 3 (PTI): At least 21 people, including 11 foreign nationals, were killed and 58 others rescued after a massive fire broke out at a hotel operating without a fire NOC in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday.
The blaze erupted around 8.30 a.m. at Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani and rapidly engulfed the five-storey building. Officials said the structure had only one entry-exit point, permanently sealed windows and a sensor-operated main door, turning it into a virtual death trap.
Many victims were caught unaware, some while asleep, as flames spread through the building. Firefighters, rescue personnel and local residents rushed to evacuate those trapped inside.
The rescued were taken to hospitals, where 21 people, including 10 Indians, were declared brought dead. Officials said the death toll could rise as several injured remain in critical condition.
Many of the deceased were from Central Asian and African countries and had been staying at the hotel while attending to relatives admitted in a nearby hospital. Preliminary investigations revealed that the establishment was operating far beyond its authorised capacity.
Police said permission had been granted for only six rooms under the Delhi government’s bed-and-breakfast policy, but the hotel was running 25 rooms. Additional rooms had also been constructed in the basement.
The building housed a restaurant on the ground floor, while the basement and upper floors were being used as hotel accommodation. Officials said the structure was originally a ground-floor-plus-one building, but additional floors were constructed over the past six to seven years without informing authorities. A complete building plan had not been submitted, and the building reportedly exceeded 15 metres in height, making fire safety clearance mandatory.
Owner arrested: Meanwhile, Delhi Police arrested hotel building owner Lavkesh Bajaj hours after the tragedy. Police had earlier issued a look-out circular against Bajaj and his wife and launched a search operation to trace them.
An FIR has been registered under charges of culpable homicide and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said the role of other persons associated with the establishment was also being investigated.