A devastating fire at the Flourish Stay B&B in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar claimed the lives of 21 people on Wednesday morning. Among the deceased were 10 Indian nationals and 11 foreigners from Africa, Central Asia, and Turkmenistan. Over 40 others were rescued, many of whom remain in critical condition. The blaze broke out around 8:30 AM, prompting a massive rescue operation with eight fire tenders deployed to the site.
Authorities revealed that the hotel was operating without a mandatory fire safety NOC and had illegally expanded beyond its licensed capacity. The building reportedly had only one entry-exit point, sealed windows, and a sensor-operated main door that trapped occupants inside. The hotel owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide and negligence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “tragic” and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished for the speedy recovery of those injured. Local residents assisted rescue efforts by laying mattresses outside the building to help those forced to jump from upper floors.
This tragedy, one of the deadliest hotel fires in Delhi in recent years, has sparked outrage over lax enforcement of safety norms. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the illegal expansion and safety lapses that contributed to the disaster, underscoring the urgent need for stricter compliance in guesthouses and hotels across the capital.
