A devastating fire at a bed and breakfast (B&B) in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning claimed the lives of 21 people, including 11 foreign nationals. According to police, many of the foreign victims were medical tourists from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Bangladesh.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and registered an FIR for culpable homicide not amount to murder. The owner of Flourish Stays B&B, Luv Kesh Bajaj, a resident of Saket, is currently absconding.
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood ordered immediate action against all B&B establishments operating in violation of building regulations and safety guidelines. He directed officials to seal such properties without issuing show-cause notices or granting owners time for explanations.
A high-level committee has also been tasked with inspecting B&Bs across Malviya Nagar and the rest of the national capital.
Preliminary findings indicate that Flourish Stays was authorized to operate only six rooms but was reportedly running 25 rooms. Officials also revealed that the property lacked a mandatory fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC).
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as guests jumped from upper floors to escape the flames, while local residents smashed locked windows and placed mattresses on the road to cushion falls.
One of the first responders, Ishrar Khan, said the situation was horrific. “I was helping some of the victims, and their skin was peeling off. They were all screaming,” he recalled.
Another resident, Wasim Raza, a security officer at Max Hospital Saket, assisted rescue efforts alongside Delhi Police personnel. He said several people were trapped in the basement, and rescuers had to cut through iron window grills to reach them. Seven people were rescued from the basement area.
DCP (South) Anant Mittal confirmed that emergency services received information about the fire at 8:48 am. Eight fire tenders were deployed, and more than 40 people were rescued and shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Victims were admitted to Max Hospital, AIIMS Trauma Centre, and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital. Hospital authorities reported that 39 patients were brought to Max Hospital, including 18 who were declared dead on arrival. Fifteen patients remain in intensive care, with eight on ventilators in critical condition.
Local MLA Satish Upadhyay said all relevant agencies, including disaster management teams, municipal authorities, and police officials, were immediately mobilized. He added that the exact cause of the fire would only be determined after a detailed investigation.
Political leaders also reacted to the tragedy. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described the repeated fire incidents in the city as deeply concerning. Former Chief Minister Atishi criticized the BJP-led government, questioning the deteriorating state of Delhi’s fire safety systems and demanding accountability for recurring tragedies.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns about fire safety compliance and the operation of unauthorized commercial establishments in the national capital.