‘Blast’ before blaze? LPG cylinder in kitchen or faulty AC may have sparked fire at Delhi's Malviya Nagar hotel; toughened glass panels trapped smoke inside

NEW DELHI: A deadly blaze ripped through a ‘bed and breakfast’ facility in south Delhi’s densely populated Hauz Rani Wednesday morning, claiming 21 lives and leaving 20 others severely injured. The fire erupted at Flourish Stay Bed & Breakfast, which had around 50 guests at the time, and spread to an adjacent inn.

At least nine of the 18 victims identified so far are foreigners, most of whom had come for medical treatment.

It’s suspected that fire started from a commercial LPG cylinder in the basement kitchen or in the AC of a restaurant on the ground floor. Witnesses said they heard a blast just before the blaze spread around 8.40am. Fed by combustible material, fire spread rapidly, spiralled up the single, narrow central stairwell.

Delhi police filed an FIR for culpable homicide and arrested the facility owner Lavkesh Bajaj, a Saket resident, hours after a look-out circular was issued against him and his wife.

Scores of sleeping guests on upper floors and basement were trapped in a suffocating nightmare. Many jumped from upper-story windows to escape being burned alive.

Locals dragged heavy bedding, large mattresses, and thick blankets to break their fall but many sustained injuries and fractures.

Masked firefighters, cops and local residents managed to pull out at least 48 people and rushed them to three hospitals. Of the 21 who died, police have managed to identify nine foreigners and the nine Indian nationals, of which eight were from one family.

A majority of the victims succumbed to smoke inhalation while many had severe burn injuries, and acute respiratory damage. Autopsy reports are awaited.

It was around 8.48 am that Delhi Fire Services and local police received frantic distress calls. Authorities dispatched eight fire tenders to manage water distribution, two high-capacity water bowsers to maintain pressure, and specialized Quick Response Vehicles equipped with cutting tools and ventilation fans.

First responders arrived around 8.55 am but met a logistical nightmare. The terrace was locked and the ground floor was on fire. The narrow, winding lanes and haphazard parking impeded movement of the heavy emergency vehicles.

Facing this gridlock, the locals mobilised. As traffic ground to a halt, residents formed human chains and pushed cars that were blocking the way to make space for fire tenders. They then directed traffic and guided CATS ambulances directly to the disaster site. Only one fire tender could reach the spot at a time. Between 9 and 11.30am, a massive, coordinated rescue operation was fully underway.

Among those who were injured were 10 cops and two firemen.

By noon, multiple firefighting units extinguished the blaze Firefighters found multiple cylinders stashed in the basement. Forensic and technical teams are analysing evidence from the site.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the kin of each victim. He also said Rs. 50,000 would be provided to those who sustained injuries in the incident.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered and a city-wide crackdown will be launched against illegal properties, unauthorised guest houses and establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building by-laws .

The victims who were visiting India are Tulkinow Khumoium and Makhpiratkhon Kochkarova from Kyrgyzstan, David Atim and Esther Ngusoron from Nigeria, Nargiza Khakimova from Uzbekistan, Tshipamba Achil Ntambue from Mozambique and Janjay N Roland from Liberia. Indian victims include Shrutika Barnwal (27) and eight members of one family.

Among those injured are Issac (62), Roman Habib (20), Umma Salma (51), Vishal Kumar (29), Hosian Mosharool (40), Rohit Mukhiya (25), Uba (32), Mohammad Warsam (31), Janko Jibrin (75), Ikhtiyor Tashtiayev (46), Mohammad Sahidul Islam (48), Aarmin Jaman (25), Riyana (43) and Shakhida (44)