NEW DELHI, JUNE 4 — Authorities arrested hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj following a devastating fire at the Flourish Stay B&B in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar neighborhood that killed 21 people and injured dozens more.
Delhi Police registered a case of culpable homicide against Bajaj as investigators uncovered extensive safety and licensing violations at the property. Investigators discovered that the establishment had regulatory approval for only six rooms under the Delhi government’s Bed & Breakfast policy, but it was allegedly operating approximately 25 rooms, including illegal accommodations in the basement.
“Investigators have uncovered alleged safety and licensing violations, including operating far beyond approved capacity and running the establishment without a fire NOC,” a police official stated regarding the ongoing criminal inquiry.
The victims of the blaze included both Indian citizens and 12 foreign nationals. Officials noted that many of the international guests were staying at the guest house because it was located near local hospitals where their family members were receiving medical treatment. The Bangladesh High Commission affirmed that five Bangladeshi nationals were among the injured survivors.
Preliminary findings indicate that the fire began in a ground-floor restaurant after electrical equipment was turned on. The five-story structure rapidly filled with heavy smoke and intense heat, trapping guests inside. Investigators asserted that the building’s design severely hindered rescue operations, pointing to a single entry-exit point, sealed windows, and a sensor-operated main door that failed during the emergency.
In response to the disaster, Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu ordered a month-long, citywide safety inspection drive. The initiative will target hotels, lodges, nursing homes, coaching centers, and restaurants across the capital. Additionally, emergency personnel declared they would identify narrow lanes and chokepoints that currently block fire tenders from accessing dense neighborhoods.
