Delhi Hotel Fire Claims 21 Lives, Owner Arrested

A devastating fire at the Flourish Stay ‘B and B’ hotel in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar claimed 21 lives on Wednesday morning, including 11 foreigners. The hotel, which was approved for six rooms, had expanded to five floors with over 25 rooms, violating regulations. Authorities confirmed that the hotel lacked a fire NOC and had only one entry and exit point, which contributed to the tragedy. Among the deceased, nine were from African nations and two from Turkmenistan. DNA testing will be conducted to identify the victims.

The hotel owner, Lovkesh Bajaj, has been arrested, and a case of culpable homicide has been registered against him and others. Officials are yet to determine the cause of the fire. Witnesses reported that the fire broke out at around 8:30 AM, quickly spreading smoke throughout the building, leaving occupants trapped. Emergency services rescued 58 people, of whom 35 were injured. Ten police personnel were also hurt during the rescue operations. Max Hospital reported receiving 39 victims, with 18 declared dead on arrival, 15 admitted to the ICU, and eight on ventilators.

Authorities highlighted several safety violations, including sealed windows, a sensor-operated main door, and a single exit route, which turned the building into a death trap. Local residents and emergency responders worked together to rescue trapped individuals, using mattresses and CPR to save lives.

The incident underscores the urgent need for stricter fire safety enforcement in Delhi, where only 52 out of 1,000 licensed hotels reportedly have valid fire NOCs. The Delhi High Court had previously directed authorities to prepare a fire safety action plan, but compliance remains inadequate.