Malviya Nagar Fire LIVE Updates: A massive fire swept through a restaurant in Malviya Nagar of Delhi has killed as many as 21 persons. Officials have said that of the 21 dead, many are foreigners. The fire broke out around 9:30 am in the morning and fire services was informed. Track Malviya Nagar Fire LIVE Updates.
As soon as the fire services reached the location, they evacuated many from the basement of the restaurant. Authorities had earlier confirmed 10 deaths, but the toll steadily increased over time. The death count has now risen to 18.
Earlier, the Delhi Police had informed that 11 people were rescued from the incident spot by the Delhi Fire Service personnel and were admitted to the hospital for treatment.
10:20 pm: Flourish Stay co-owner Lavkesh Bajaj arrested
Delhi Police has arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, owner of the hotel building in Malviya Nagar where a devastating fire killed 21 people, PTI reported. Bajaj was arrested hours after the blaze ripped through the Flourish Stay B&B in the congested Hauz Rani area.
Police had earlier issued a look out circular (LOC) against Bjaja and his wife, and launched an operation to trace them.
10:10 pm: Delhi to withdraw B&B policy
The Delhi government has decided to officially withdraw its Bed and Breakfast policy and review all establishments operating under the scheme, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said.
"We are going to officially withdraw the Bed and Breakfast scheme, and all establishments licensed under it will be checked," Mishra told PTI.
9:50 pm: AAP leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said, "Since, Arvind Kejriwal government is no longer in power, illegal construction mafia has been given free hand across Delhi."
Atishi, also a former Delhi chief minister, said that the fire safety system has become "dilapidated" under the BJP government, asking who would take responsibility for the fire accidents.
9:20 pm: Flourish Stay co-owner Lovkesh Bajaj on the run
As investigators intensified their probe into the tragedy, a team of Delhi Police officers visited the residence of Lovkesh Bajaj, co-owner of Hotel Flourish Stay, after preliminary findings pointed to serious breaches of building regulations and fire safety norms at the property.
The Delhi Police said they issued a look-out circular (LoC) against Bajaj and the other accused. This will reportedly be done to ensure that they do not flee abroad.
8:50 pm: AAP, Congress blame BJP for fire tragedy
The Aam Aadmi Party and Congress blamed the ruling BJP for the massive fire, with the saffron party accusing them of creating a "chaotic" situation over the past decades.
AAP chief and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a post on X expressed concern over continuous fire incidents and deaths in Delhi.
AAP Delhi unit convener Saurbah Bharadwaj, visited the fire spot in Malviya Nagar, and claimed that eyewitnesses said fire tenders arrived 1.5 hours late.
Most of those who perished in the blaze were foreigners, he said, and wondered what image of India was created globally by the tragedy.
"The shameless BJP government is once again running away from its responsibility. Even in Palam and Vivek Vihar fire incidents, the BJP government fixed no accountability," he alleged.
Delhi BJP president and Union minister Harsh Malhotra hit back at the AAP and Congress, saying the "chaotic" situation of hotels in Delhi is a result of 27 years of "corruption" by successive governments run by them.
8: 20 pm: 9 Africans, 2 Turkmenistanis among dead
The death toll in the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy has risen to 21, including 11 foreign nationals and 10 Indians, while 16 people were injured and 19 others were in critical condition, according to official data.
According to the consolidated data, 58 people were affected by the fire incident.
7: 40 pm: Former Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal tweets, "I pray to God for peace to souls of those who lost their lives in the horrific fire in Malviya Nagar, Delhi..."
7: 10 pm: EAM Jaishankar expressed his “deepest condolences” at the loss of lives, including foreign nationals, in the tragic fire incident in Malviya Nagar, New Delhi. “Pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
“MEA is in touch with Embassies and is extending all necessary assistance,” he said.
6:40 pm: ‘Terrible tragedy…’: BJP MP promises strict action
BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri called it a “terrible tragedy” and expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
“The Delhi Government has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The inquiry report will be released in due course. Those found guilty must face the strictest possible punishment,” he told ANI. “We must identify the MCD officials who were posted in that area at the time of its construction and hold them accountable for their negligence...”
6:20 pm:
5:50 pm: According to a PTI report, citing sources, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu will chair a high-level meeting later in the evening with all concerned authorities to review the incident.
5:20 pm: 8 patients still on ventilator — Max Hospital
Max Healthcare Group Medical Director Dr Sandeep Budhiraja said eight patients injured in the fire are currently on ventilator support and remain in critical condition.
"Eight patients are on ventilators and undergoing treatment. The majority of them have suffered from asphyxiation injuries, which are caused by smoke inhalation. All of them have minor burns, not deep burns. One patient had burns of more than 25 per cent. He was on a ventilator, so we shifted him to the burn ward at Safdarjung Hospital. Five patients were stable and came with minor injuries," Budhiraja said.
4:50 pm: 17 foreigners among 21 dead
Seventeen foreign nationals were among the 21 people killed in the devastating fire at a hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar on Wednesday, with most of the victims reportedly hailing from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh, officials said.
4:20 pm: Visuals from the area -- with narrow lanes, overhanging wires and cramped buildings haphazardly sharing space -- showed high flames rising in the air and wires twisted out of shape in the heat hanging precariously. Glass lay shattered all around the smoke charred building.
3:50 pm: Among the casualties were foreign nationals, many from Central Asian and African countries, staying in the hotel in to attend to their kin admitted in Max Hospital minutes away.
3:20 pm: It was a tragedy that was perhaps waiting to happen — officials said the hotel had only one entry-exit. The fire NOC is under the scanner.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
2:50 pm: Eatery had approval for 6 rooms, was operating 24
A bed-and-breakfast (B&B) in Malviya Nagar was allegedly operating far beyond its permitted capacity. Officials said that the establishment was running 24 rooms despite having approval for only six.
The Delhi Tourism department had granted permission for only six rooms at the property under the bed-and-breakfast scheme. However, the establishment was allegedly operating 24 rooms.
Online booking platforms also showed 24 rooms available for reservation.
2:30 pm: Delhi Minister Ashish Sood said strict action would be taken against those responsible for the Malviya Nagar fire incident.
"The building owner who is responsible for negligence will be arrested. We will not spare any illegal building, and those found guilty," Sood said. "The guilty will not be spared. We are probing whether or not the building obtained NOC. We are finding out if the required permission to run BnB was obtained or not."
2:10 pm: Saurabh Bharadwaj launched a sharp attack on the Delhi government, alleging systemic failures in fire response and accountability after the Malviya Nagar fire that claimed 21 lives.
“The government should fix its own responsibility. Don't blame these poor people. The government should say our fire brigade arrived late, we are sorry, our preparation was not there,” he said.
1.50 pm: Max Hospital, Saket Complex, in its official statement said, “Following a cylinder blast incident, 39 patients were received at the Emergency Department of Max Hospital, Saket Complex. Upon arrival, all patients underwent immediate clinical assessment and were managed by multidisciplinary teams in accordance with established emergency response protocols. The patients presented with asphyxiation and varying degrees of minor burn injuries and fractures.”
Of the 39 patients received, 18 were brought dead, 15 are admitted in ICU, including 8 patients on ventilator and in critical condition. 5 patients with minor injuries were treated and discharged following primary medical care. 1 patient shifted to Safdarjung Hospital due to excessive burns. The deceased include both local and foreign nationals.
“The hospital promptly activated its mass-casualty response protocols and mobilized all available clinical and support resources to ensure timely and comprehensive care for those affected. Our teams continue to provide round-the-clock medical attention to the patients under treatment.”
We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives, it added
1.47 pm: AIIMS officials, “We received 13 patients, including 3 patients who fell from a height and are in a critical condition, and 10 persons who were rescued by Delhi Police.”
28 persons have been taken to Max Hospital and Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital
1.30 pm: Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as flames rapidly engulfed the multi-storey building, forcing several occupants to jump from upper floors in a desperate attempt to save themselves.
A resident, Sher Khan, said the fire initially appeared minor before spreading rapidly across the building.
"I was going to the shop in the morning. There was a small fire here at first, then it kept increasing. As the fire increased, it seemed as if there was no way to escape. People spread mattresses on the ground, and some people from the third floor jumped onto them with a little child. One woman said she had fractured her leg. The public made a lot of effort to help, but the situation became more intense as time passed," Khan told ANI.
1.15 pm: PM announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the victim s family
PMO posted on X: The loss of lives due to a fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi is tragic. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000
12:54 pm: Video shows massive fire at Malviya Nagar restaurant
12:48 pm: The death toll rises to 21 in Malviya Nagar restaurant fire incident, confirms Delhi Police.
Following the incident, the Divisional Officer (DO) Ravinder from Nehru Place (NRN) fire station is present at the spot.
"A fire broke out at a restaurant in Malviya Nagar today. Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received a call at 09:45 AM. Three people have been rescued from the basement by DFS personnel and rushed to the hospital via CATS Ambulance. Divisional Officer (DO) Ravinder from Nehru Place (NRN) fire station is on the spot. Further details awaited," the earlier statement said.
Former AAP MLA, who represented Malviya Nagar constituency, Somnath Bharti, said, “The fire broke out due to a short circuit at 8 am today. The fire spread to the kitchen and then to the upper floors of the adjoining hotel. I am also involved in the rescue operation here.”
“Several people suffered due to gas and smoke. We expect the Delhi govt to give compensation of ₹1 crore each to the families of the victims and probe the matter,” he said.
Further details are awaited
