Deadly Hotel Fire Claims Lives
At least 21 people were killed after a devastating fire swept through two hotels in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday morning, triggering panic among guests and residents.
Footage from the scene shows the charred facade of Micasa Inn, debris scattered across the street, with police, firefighters and rescue teams working around the gutted buildings.
The fire reportedly broke out at around 8:50 a.m. in the basement restaurant of the Flourish Stay hotel before spreading to the neighbouring Micasa Inn, engulfing the buildings in thick smoke and trapping people inside, 37 of whom were reportedly rescued.
Authorities said 16 victims had been identified at the time of publication, including nine Indian nationals and citizens of Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria and Bangladesh. Efforts are continuing to identify the remaining victims and notify their families.
Eyewitness Describes Chaos and Escape Attempts
“There was a lot of smoke and people started running,” said resident Himanshu Agarwal. “We came to know that a fire had broken out in the hotel and, most importantly, all these hotels are illegal. No one has a fire exit. That’s the reason no one has been able to leave.”
Agarwal said many of the guests staying in the area were foreign nationals visiting Delhi for medical treatment. He reported seeing people jump from upper floors in desperate attempts to escape the flames.
“There was a lot of commotion. People were jumping from the top,” Agarwal said, adding that he heard people “screaming and dying.”
“Who is answerable for this?” he asked. “The administration should be active. Illegal hotels should be closed.”
Investigation Into Safety Violations
Authorities have launched an investigation into the fire amid growing scrutiny of safety standards. The Delhi Fire Services said the hotel did not possess proper fire safety certification and would not have qualified for one under existing regulations. Reports also suggest the property was licensed to operate six rooms under the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) scheme but was allegedly running 25 rooms, including some in the basement.
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood has ordered inspections of all B&B establishments in the capital, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation of 2 lakh rupees for the families of those killed and 50,000 rupees for the injured.
Article by Viory
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