Delhi Hotel Fire LIVE: CMO Says City Wide Crackdown Will Be Launched Against Illegal Properties, Unautorised Guest Houses

At least 21 people, including several foreigners, were killed in a massive fire that broke out at a bed-and-breakfast in a five-storey building in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday.

The foreigners killed in the incident are mainly from Central Asian and African countries. Officials say the death toll may rise as a number of the injured are in critical condition.

The blaze erupted at the Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani, a congested locality in Malviya Nagar. The fire started around 8.30 am at the nearby Lemon Green Restaurant, but police later clarified that it was sparked in the hotel building. More than 40 people were rescued and rushed to hospital, where 21 were declared brought dead.

Eyewitness accounts

An eyewitness said he noticed flames and smoke billowing from the building around 9.30 am while passing through the area. "I saw four to six people breaking the glass and jumping from the building to escape the fire. One person's leg appeared to have been broken after the fall," he told PTI.

Another eyewitness said a woman with her child in her arms jumped from the third floor of the building. The woman, according to eyewitnesses, landed on a mattress along with the child and may have sustained some injuries.

Cause Of Fire Being Investigated

The building has a basement, ground floor and five upper floors, according to fire officer A K Malik. Teams from the Delhi Fire Services, police and disaster response units searched the smoke-blackened structure for survivors. Victims were seen being pulled out of the building and rushed to hospitals by ambulances.

Video footage from the spot showed rescue personnel evacuating people from the basement of the building. The building suffered extensive damage in the fire, with debris, shattered glass and burnt materials strewn in the vicinity. A large crowd gathered near the site as authorities cordoned off the spot and diverted traffic to facilitate rescue operations.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Delhi education minister Ashish Sood said the building owner, "responsible for negligence", will be arrested.

The Delhi Police later in the night clarified that a total of 9 Indians and 12 foreign naionals were killed in the fire that broke out in a restaurant in Malaviya Nagar.

According to a statement issued by Delhi Police, "In the fire incident at Malviya Nagar, a total of 49 persons were admitted to various hospitals for medical treatment. During the course of treatment, 21 injured persons have succumbed to their injuries and have been declared dead. The deceased include 9 Indian nationals and 12 foreign nationals. The Indian nationals who lost their lives are: Shrutika Barnwal, Tarjani Aggarwal, Varya Aggarwal alias Pearl, Jhaveri Aggarwal, Vivek Aggarwal, Ashok Aggarwal, Kamla Aggarwal, Prem Lata Aggarwal and Jivisha Aggarwal."

"A total of 8 injured persons have been discharged after receiving treatment, while the remaining injured persons continue to undergo medical care. A case has been registered in the matter and investigation is ongoing," the statement added.

The Delhi Chief Minister's Office has stated that the lapses that culminated in the tragic fire at a guest house in Malviya Nagar will be examined with utmost seriousness, and accountability will be fixed wherever it lies.

"A Magisterial Inquiry has been ordered and an FIR has been registered against the owner of the property. A city-wide crackdown will be launched against illegal properties, unauthorised guest houses and establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building by-laws. Such premises will be sealed and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Those responsible for this tragedy will be held accountable," the Chief Minister's Office said in a post on X.

The Delhi Police have detained Lavkesh Bajaj, the owner building, where a fire killed as many as 21 people. This was informed by the Delhi Police though a media statement.

One of the deceased has been identified as Vivek Agarwal, a resident of Sector 46, Gurugram. He was a chartered accountant. His father was undergoing treatment at Max Hospital in Delhi. He was on a ventilator.

Vivek and his family had gone to Delhi to see his father. Vivek Agarwal was accompanied by his wife, two children, mother, maternal uncle, and maternal aunt. They had gone to a restaurant in Malviya Nagar for breakfast when the blaze erupted. Following his death, his Gurugram home has fallen into silence.

Vivek's wife, his two children, his mother, his maternal aunt and maternal uncle also died in the blaze.

The death toll in the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy has risen to 21, including 11 foreign nationals and 10 Indians, while 16 people were injured and 19 others were in critical condition, according to official data. According to the consolidated data, 58 people were affected by the fire incident.

The fire, which broke out at the Flourish Stay B&B in the Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar on Tuesday, left families anxiously waiting outside hospitals as doctors continued treatment of those battling severe burn and smoke inhalation injuries. Among the deceased, nine were African nationals and two from Turkmenistan, while the rest were Indians. Sixteen people sustained injuries, including five foreigners and 11 Indians.

Hours after a devastating blaze tore through a hotel in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area, Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu ordered a month-long drive to check fire safety compliance at all hotels, nursing homes, coaching institutes, restaurants and other vulnerable commercial establishments, officials said.

Sandhu chaired a meeting with the concerned departments and directed the officials to commence the drive from June 4 to check strict compliance with fire safety norms, they said.

“All hotels, lodges, inns, nursing homes, coaching institutes, restaurants and other vulnerable commercial establishments will be covered. All rooms in hotels, lodges and inns exceeding the permitted limit to be closed,” an official said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed his deepest condolences at the loss of lives, including of foreign nationals, in a fire incident in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar. In a post on X, he also said the Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with embassies and is extending all necessary assistance.

The massive fire broke out in a hotel in Hauz Rani in Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday morning, killing at least 21 people, including foreigners whose ailing relatives were being treated in hospitals nearby.

The blaze at the Flourish Stay B&B started around 8.30 am and quickly spread, catching everybody unawares. Rescue workers, including many locals, rushed to the spot to pull out those trapped inside the five-floor narrow building.

"Express my deepest condolences at the loss of lives, including of foreign nationals, in the tragic fire incident in Malviya Nagar, New Delhi. Pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," Jaishankar posted. "MEA is in touch with Embassies and is extending all necessary assistance," he added.

A team of Delhi Police officials reached the residence of Lovkesh Bajaj, the co-owner of Hotel Flourish Stays, where a massive fire broke out and claimed the lives of 21 people, after preliminary inquiries exposed egregious violations of building and fire safety codes.

The police visit to the co-owner's residence comes as part of a rapidly widening investigation into the devastating fire at a hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar, with the police looking into potential lapses in fire safety norms, structural clearances, and emergency evacuation protocols at the property.

Sealed glass windows, sensor-operated gates that stopped functioning during the blaze, overcrowded rooms and violations of fire safety norms turned a hotel in Malviya Nagar on Wednesday into a death trap, leaving dozens of occupants with no escape as smoke and flames rapidly engulfed the building.

At least 21 people, including six foreigners, were killed, and the toll may rise as the condition of nine individuals is critical, according to officials.

Fire officials said the five-storey establishment -- operating under a bed-and-breakfast (B&B) licence that permitted only six rooms -- was allegedly running about 25 rooms across the basement, ground floor and upper storeys. Furthermore, the building lacked a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC), they said. (PTI)

Residents and eyewitnesses alleged that fire tenders reached the blaze site in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar late, claiming that several lives could have been saved had the response been quicker, even as the Delhi Fire Service rejected the charge. According to the police, 21 people were killed while several others were injured after a massive fire broke out at a bed-and-breakfast hotel in the Hauz Rani locality.

Anjum, who owns a building opposite the gutted structure, said she first sensed something was wrong when she went to her father's room early in the morning to give him medicine.

"We smelled something, but we thought it might be something else. Then a spark occurred, and the building soon caught fire. Fire brigades were called around 8 am, but they arrived late. If they could have come earlier, casualties could have been prevented," she claimed.

Seventeen foreign nationals were among the 21 people killed in the devastating fire at Flourish Stay B&B in Malviya Nagar, officials confirmed. Most victims were reportedly from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh. The tragedy underscores the high number of foreign guests among the casualties and highlights the urgent need for improved safety measures in city hotels. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities focusing on the cause of the fire and the building's safety standards.

Ten Delhi Police personnel, including five Head Constables (HC) and five Constables, were injured while leading rescue efforts during the Malviya Nagar fire on Wednesday. The injured include HC Kartar, HC Hargyan, HC Prem Chand, HC Jitendra, HC Dinesh, CT Raviranjan, CT Sandeep, CT Vikram, CT Deepak, and CT Rampal, from Police Station Malviya Nagar, Neb Sarai and the PCR unit. All were admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre and are now stable and under observation. The fire at Lemon Green Restaurant claimed 21 lives and left 26 others hospitalised.

As rescue and identification operations continued, several families gathered anxiously outside hospitals in hopes of receiving news about loved ones who had been inside the building when the fire broke out. Among them was a man desperately searching for his daughter, Tarini Agarwal, 42, and her two daughters, Angel (20) and a 17-year-old. While the family has been informed about the recovery of his son-in-law’s body, there has been no word on the whereabouts of the others.

"They had taken a room in the building. We have received news about my son-in-law's body, but we still have no information about the others," he said. The man, visibly distraught, expressed frustration at the lack of clear communication from authorities. "The police told us that four mobile phones had been recovered, but the hospital administration is not telling us anything," he said.

Max Healthcare Group's Medical Director, Dr Sandeep, stated that 39 people were brought to the hospital, of whom 18 were declared dead on arrival. Currently, 15 injured are in the ICU, with 8 of them on ventilators and receiving treatment. Most injuries were caused by suffocation due to inhalation of smoke. One patient, who suffered 25 per cent burns, has been shifted to the burn ward at Safdarjung Hospital. Five patients were in stable condition with minor injuries; they received initial first aid and have been discharged. He said, "Age is across the spectrum. The ones I have seen range from 30 to 50 years old. There were one or two who had severe scalding, severe burns, but the majority had lung problems."

Probe into the fire incident intensified, and the Delhi Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) under charges of culpable homicide in connection with the devastating hotel fire in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar, officials said. The fire erupted early Wednesday at a bed-and-breakfast operating in a five-storey building in the area. Several injured individuals were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, and the death toll may rise further, with at least 26 people reported to be in critical condition.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed deep sorrow over the tragic fire in Malviya Nagar, which claimed 21 lives. In a post on X, Kejriwal offered prayers for the victims and voiced concern over what he described as "continuous fire incidents" in the city.

"I pray to God for peace for the souls of those who lost their lives in the horrific Malviya Nagar fire. The tragic loss of 21 lives is heartbreaking. The recurring fire incidents in Delhi and the deaths of innocent people are extremely worrying," he wrote. Kejriwal also called for urgent measures to prevent such tragedies and highlighted the need for improved fire safety in the capital.

With at least 21 people dead in a massive fire at a bed-and-breakfast in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar area, serious questions have now been raised regarding the hotel's security arrangements.

The primary focus of the investigation is to determine whether or not the hotel management possessed a valid 'Fire NOC' (No Objection Certificate). Teams from the police and the fire department are currently investigating whether the fire-fighting equipment within the hotel was functional or merely for show. Additionally, authorities are scrutinising whether the Fire NOC was renewed on time. If any negligence regarding safety standards is uncovered, the concerned officials could also face punitive action.

Delhi government minister Ashish Sood, who arrived at the scene to take stock of the rescue operations in the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy, said that preliminary inputs suggest the hotel's structure violated safety standards.

Delhi Police officials also say there was only one entry and exit point, and when people ran for the exit after the fire broke out, they were trapped by the narrow passage and thick smoke.

"In this chaos, suffocation and fire caused such massive loss of life," a Delhi police official said. He stated that strict action will be taken against all illegal hotels and restaurants operating in this manner.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Anant Mittal said a case is being filed against the hotel management under sections of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The investigation will be expanded to include other relevant sections to ensure the strictest possible punishment for the perpetrators, he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed grief over the tragic fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, in which at least 21 people were killed.

In a post shared on X, Shah wrote, "My heart is deeply grieved by the fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi. The local administration is engaged in relief and rescue operations. My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones in this heart-wrenching tragedy. May God grant strength to the bereaved families to bear this sorrow." He assured that the injured are receiving medical care. "The injured are being provided with the best medical facilities. I pray for the swift recovery of all the injured," he added.

Rajnath Singh also expressed sorrow over the incident, calling it "heart-wrenching" and offering condolences to the bereaved families. Meanwhile, Gandhi described the incident as "extremely heartbreaking" and urged Congress workers to assist in relief and rescue efforts.

A woman with her child in her arms jumped from the third floor of a building in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar where a massive fire left at least 21 dead on Wednesday, PTI reported, citing eyewitnesses. "A woman holding a young child jumped from the third floor after local residents spread mattresses on the ground below in an attempt to save those trapped inside," an eyewitness said. Witnesses said the woman landed on one of the mattresses along with the child and may have sustained some injuries. She was immediately sent to a nearby hospital.

"She was carrying the child tightly and jumped when there was no other way out. People had already arranged mattresses below the building. Both survived, but she appeared to have suffered injuries," he added.

Delhi education minister Ashish Sood, speaking to news agency ANI, said, “The building owner who is responsible for negligence will be arrested. We will not spare any illegal building and those found guilty.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the fire incident in Malviya Nagar here and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

"The loss of lives due to a fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi is tragic. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi," PMO posted on X.

In the Malviya Nagar fire incident in which at least 21 people were killed, an eyewitness said he noticed flames and smoke billowing from the building around 9.30 am while passing through the area.

"I saw four to six people breaking the glass and jumping from the building to escape the fire. One person's leg appeared to have been broken after the fall," he told PTI. The witness said rescue teams later evacuated the area and traffic movement was rerouted around the site. Locals played a key role in the rescue efforts before emergency services arrived, according to eyewitnesses.

A mattress-seller spread mattresses on the ground to cushion the fall of people, while others administered CPR to injured victims. Residents also claimed that the building, which was operating as a hotel, earlier housed a Khadi Bhandar and was frequently used by relatives of patients undergoing treatment at the nearby private hospital.

Some locals alleged that there was only one exit from the building and claimed that firefighters reached the spot nearly an hour after the blaze broke out. These claims could not be independently verified. The rescue operation is over, with the building being cordoned off for police investigation.