Delhi Hotel Fire Claims 21 Lives, Owner Arrested

A conflagration ripped through the Flurish Stay BNBI hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning, killing 21 people, including 12 foreign nationals. The blaze, traced to a short‑circuit, spread rapidly in a building that was operating 25 rooms illegally without a fire NOC, lacking emergency exits and with sensor‑controlled doors that locked when power was cut.

Rescue crews battled thick smoke, saving 58 guests who were later treated at a nearby Max Hospital. Witnesses described harrowing scenes, such as a couple clinging to each other in a bathroom before succumbing to the smoke, and a young woman and a disabled man burned in a wheelchair. Local youths entered the flames without protective gear to pull people to safety. Police arrested hotel owner Lovkesh Bajaj, who fled the scene after the fire.

The tragedy has highlighted severe fire‑safety lapses in Delhi's hospitality sector, prompting calls for stricter inspections and enforcement of building codes.