New Delhi: A major fire broke out on Wednesday at the Flourish Stay Hotel in Malviya Nagar, South Delhi, resulting in the death of 21 people. Among the deceased, 17 were foreign nationals, including citizens from Bangladesh and several African countries.
According to the Delhi Fire Service and local residents, the fire started around 8:50 AM in a restaurant located on the ground floor of the six-storey building. The flames quickly spread upward to the hotel rooms and also reached the basement, trapping several occupants inside.
Chief Fire Officer Abhilash Malik confirmed that around 37 to 40 people were rescued from the building. He also stated that the hotel did not have a valid fire No Objection Certificate (NOC). The property had permission for only six rooms under a bed-and-breakfast license, but was operating with nearly 25 rooms.
Visuals from the scene showed people jumping from the third and fourth floors in an attempt to escape the fire. Local residents laid mattresses on the ground to help reduce injuries during the desperate rescue attempts.
Officials from Max Hospital reported that 39 victims were brought in, out of which 18 were declared dead on arrival. Several others remain in critical condition, with some on ventilator support. AIIMS is currently treating 13 injured individuals, including some who sustained injuries after jumping from the building.
The basement area, which had a single narrow entry and exit point, also trapped multiple people. More than six individuals were rescued from there.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Authorities have raised serious concerns over safety violations, highlighting the urgent need for strict enforcement of fire regulations in the capital.
