Delhi LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu orders month-long fire safety drive after Malviya Nagar hotel blaze kills 21

NEW DELHI: LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Wednesday ordered a month-long fire safety inspection drive across hotels, nursing homes, coaching institutes, restaurants and other vulnerable commercial establishments after a devastating blaze at a hotel in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar claimed 21 lives.Sandhu chaired a meeting with officials from the concerned departments and directed them to launch the drive from June 4 to ensure strict adherence to fire safety norms, according to news agency PTI.“All hotels, lodges, inns, nursing homes, coaching institutes, restaurants and other vulnerable commercial establishments will be covered. All rooms in hotels, lodges and inns exceeding the permitted limit to be closed,” an official said.During the meeting, the Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Police and land-owning agencies were instructed to conduct an accessibility survey to identify bottlenecks and chokepoints that could hinder fire tenders from reaching affected areas.“The identified chokepoints should be cleared wherever feasible and alternate fire-fighting arrangements be made at other places,” the official said.The directions came in the wake of a major fire at the Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, which was allegedly operating without a fire no-objection certificate (NOC). The blaze killed at least 21 people, including 11 foreign nationals whose relatives were undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals.According to officials, the fire broke out around 8.50 am and rapidly engulfed the five-storey building, located in a narrow lane. The structure had only one entry-exit point, permanently sealed windows and a sensor-operated main door, making evacuation difficult.At least 58 people were rescued and taken to hospitals, where 21 were declared dead, including 10 Indians, officials said.