Kathmandu: A massive fire at a hotel in the Malviya Nagar area of India’s capital, New Delhi, has claimed the lives of 21 people. The Delhi Police confirmed the incident, stating that the death toll has reached 21 in the blaze that engulfed the hotel, which also housed an eatery, in Malviya Nagar. Preliminary investigations reveal that most of the deceased are foreign nationals. It is suspected that they may have come to the area to visit the Max Hospital in Saket for medical treatment.
Following the incident, facts showing gross irregularities in the hotel’s operation have also come to light. Under the Delhi Government’s “Bed and Breakfast” scheme, the hotel was granted permission to operate only 6 rooms. However, it was found that 25 rooms had been illegally constructed inside the hotel, some of which were located even below the ground floor. This has raised serious questions regarding the complete non-compliance with safety standards.
Since the area is close to the Max Hospital in Saket, many hotels and eateries operate there to accommodate foreign nationals arriving for medical treatment. During the Commonwealth Games, 15 hotels in this region were granted permission under the said scheme. It is reported that many foreign nationals who came for medical treatment were staying at the hotel where the fire broke out. Therefore, it is highly suspected that the majority of the deceased are foreign citizens.
Initially, seven fire tenders were deployed to control the blaze, and additional teams were dispatched later. Rescue workers successfully evacuated 37 people safely, while a search operation was conducted across the entire building. A detailed investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire. Furthermore, authorities have stated that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of negligence or violation of regulations.
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