11 foreigners among 21 killed as fire rips through Delhi hotel

What began as another busy morning in South Delhi turned into one of the Capital’s deadliest fire tragedies in recent years as flames tore through a hotel-cum-restaurant building in Malviya Nagar’s Hauz Rani area on Wednesday, trapping guests inside smoke-filled rooms, forcing many to leap from windows and leaving at least 21 persons, including 11 foreigners, dead.

With screams piercing through narrow lanes and desperate families gathering outside hospitals for information, the blaze once again exposed Delhi’s fragile fire safety net and raised uncomfortable questions over enforcement failures in congested commercial pockets.

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The fire broke out at the multi-storey building housing Flourish Stay B&B, triggering a massive rescue operation involving firefighters, police personnel and disaster response teams. More than 40 people were rescued from the building, while several others suffered severe burn injuries and smoke inhalation.

Officials said most of those who died were foreign nationals, many of them medical tourists from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh. Several members of two families, one from Rajasthan and another from neighbouring Gurugram also died.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as thick black smoke rapidly engulfed staircases and corridors, leaving many with little option but to jump from upper floors in a desperate attempt to survive. Videos circulating on social media showed the building engulfed in flames from the ground floor to the top.

The Centre has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the 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,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said 21 people lost their lives while nearly 50 were rescued. “The first police control room (PCR) call regarding the incident was received at 8.48 am following which a police team rushed to the spot and commenced rescue, evacuation and relief operations with the teams of DFS and locals. The fire was extinguished with the assistance of eight fire tenders,” he said.

According to preliminary information, the fire started in a restaurant located on the ground floor of the guest house. The name of Lovkesh Bajaj has emerged as the owner of the property.

A total of 47 persons affected by the incident were rushed to various hospitals. Of these, 21 died, 17 were found injured and nine were stated to be in critical condition.

According to hospital-wise data, six people were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, of whom three were declared dead, two were injured and one was critical. Three people were admitted to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital, where two were treated for injuries and one was referred to Safdarjung Hospital. Thirty-eight people were taken to Max Hospital, where 18 were declared dead, 13 were injured and seven were in critical condition. One patient was later shifted to Safdarjung Hospital.

The building had only a single entry-exit point. Local residents reportedly placed mattresses on the ground to cushion falls, allowing several people to jump to safety. Witnesses said at least two women, including one carrying a child, leapt from upper floors during the rescue effort.

“The owner of the building, Lavkesh Bajaj, has been detained in the matter,” a police official said. Earlier, the police had issued a look-out circular (LOC) against Bajaj and his wife. The Delhi Police have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the BNS which also includes culpable homicide. Officials said the B&B had permission to operate only six rooms but was allegedly running 25. A probe has been ordered into the matter.

Meanwhile, residents and eyewitnesses alleged that fire tenders reached the site late, claiming several lives could have been saved had the response been quicker. The Delhi Fire Service, however, rejected the allegation.

Hours after the devastating blaze 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 in the city.