Delhi Orders Fire Safety Audit After Guesthouse Tragedy

NEW DELHI: The deaths of 21 people, including 12 foreign nationals, in a South Delhi guesthouse fire have triggered a sweeping government crackdown on illegal hotels and unauthorised constructions across the national capital. Probing the deadly inferno, investigators uncovered fresh evidence of multiple violations of "safety and licensing norms" in the Malviya Nagar building operating under the now-withdrawn bed-and-breakfast (B&B) scheme.

As grief enveloped victims’ families, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday visited injured survivors undergoing treatment at Max Hospital in Saket and announced an ex gratia of `10 lakhs for the next of kin of each deceased and `5 lakhs for those seriously injured.

After reviewing treatment arrangements, Gupta directed officials to ensure the best possible medical care and all necessary assistance to victims. The CM further ordered a special fire safety audit of hotels, commercial establishments and other public buildings in the city.

The Max Hospital authorities, on their part, said 15 injured patients, including 13 foreigners, remained admitted, six of them on ventilator support, though all are stable and showing signs of improvement.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police widened its probe into the blaze at Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani. Preliminary findings indicated that access to the rooftop, a potential escape route during the fire, was blocked. The police also found cooking heaters being used in several guest rooms occupied by foreign nationals and are examining whether they had any role in the tragedy.

The police have formed five teams to trace and arrest hotel manager Jai Mishra, who remains absconding. The police officials said that the role of all persons connected with the ownership, management and licensing of the property will be scrutinised. In another development, the hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj was sent to four days of police custody.

According to police sources, the hotel owner has been largely uncooperative during questioning. He allegedly justified the illegal expansion of the property by saying, “Delhi mein sab chalta hai (everything works in Delhi)". The officials claim that once the hotel business became profitable, Bajaj expanded the structure from two-and-a-half storeys to nearly five floors despite lacking the required permissions.

According to police, Bajaj purchased the property in 2022 when it comprised only two-and-a-half floors. Additional floors were allegedly added later. While the establishment was permitted to operate only six rooms under the Delhi government's bed-and-breakfast policy, the police said it was running around 25 to 26 rooms, including accommodations in the basement.

Officials said room tariffs ranged from `3,000 to `15,000 per day. The property also generated revenue through a ground-floor restaurant despite allegedly possessing permission only for a tea shop.

Joint-commissioner of police (southern range) Vijay Kumar said Bajaj is being questioned regarding staff members present at the time of the fire. "We will ask him about the staff members who were present there, as all of them are absconding," he said.

A visit to another property reportedly linked to the owner of Flourish Stay revealed a maze-like basement with cramped rooms, narrow corridors and extensive wooden panelling features that could prove hazardous during a fire.

In the aftermath of the deadly fire, the usually bustling lanes around Hauz Rani had fallen unusually silent by Thursday morning. Many guesthouses, homestays and shops remained shut. Residents said several occupants had hurriedly vacated nearby establishments after authorities began inspections. Some stared silently at the blackened facade while others recounted scenes from Wednesday morning.

Among the most heartrending stories to emerge from the tragedy was that of an African couple who had travelled to Delhi for fertility treatment. Rescuers found them dead in each other’s arms inside a ground-floor bathroom where they had apparently sought refuge from the smoke.

According to hospital staff involved in the rescue, the woman was seated on a toilet seat while her husband sat beside her, both embracing each other in what appeared to be their final moments before succumbing to smoke inhalation.

Another victim was 29-year-old Iraqi national Ali Amer Mosa, who had accompanied relatives seeking medical treatment. His brother-in-law Habib Abid survived by escaping through a window from the fifth floor.

“My bother died because he took the stairs. He couldn’t escape through the smoke,” Abid said, recalling how thick black smoke rapidly filled the corridors.

Eight members of a Gurugram-based family died in the fire, including chartered accountant Vivek Agarwal, his wife, two daughters, mother and three other relatives.

Standing outside a mortuary, Vivek’s cousin Mahender Garg recalled receiving a frantic call minutes before the situation turned fatal. “He told me that he was trapped in the basement and asked me to send the fire brigade quickly. Ten minutes later, everything was over,” Garg said, adding that the family had chosen the hotel because it was close to a hospital where Vivek’s father was undergoing treatment.

As police piece together what happened inside the building, authorities are also completing DNA profiling and legal formalities before handing over the bodies of foreign nationals to their families and embassies.