A massive fire broke out early Wednesday at Flourish Stay B&B, a bed-and-breakfast located in a five-storey building in Hauz Rani, a congested locality in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area. The blaze killed at least 21 people and injured several others, with many of the deceased being foreign nationals mainly from Central Asian and African countries, according to officials. Several injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.
Delhi Police has registered an FIR under charges of culpable homicide in connection with this tragic case. Police sources told news agency PTI that the hotel had only one entry-exit point, raising serious concerns about fire safety compliance. The fire NOC (No Objection Certificate) is currently under scanner as authorities investigate potential regulatory violations.
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The incident triggered a large-scale rescue effort by the Delhi Fire Services. Officials said DFS received an emergency call in the morning and quickly deployed several firefighting teams, including two water tenders, two water bowsers, a quick-response vehicle, and other emergency equipment around 8:50 AM. An official from the Delhi Fire Service confirmed that three people were rescued from the basement and taken to hospital in CATS ambulances, though their condition was not immediately known.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered at Max Hospital in Saket, desperately looking for information about their loved ones hours after the tragedy occurred. Relatives of the victims described everyone as severely burnt, highlighting the devastating nature of the blaze. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and more information is awaited from investigators.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday conveyed his condolences over the deaths caused by the fire in Malviya Nagar and announced financial assistance for the victims’ families and injured. He stated that families of those who lost their lives would receive an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, while those injured in the incident would be given ₹50,000 each.
