A total of 49 people were rescued after a fire broke out at a hotel in Delhi’s Hauz Rani area on Wednesday morning. Among them, at least 21 died of their wounds, while 28 survived, according to official figures. Survivors are being treated in hospitals across the city, even as relatives and acquaintances continue to search for the missing.
According to a statement by Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal, 49 people were shifted to different hospitals following the fire. Among them, 21 died of their injuries, eight of them were discharged after treatment, while the remaining 20 are still undergoing medical care.
Among the injured, four women were initially taken to Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital. Hospital records showed that Harun Nisha, 60, an Indian national, suffered inhalation injuries and was transferred to Safdarjung Hospital. Rihanna, 43, a Bangladeshi national, sustained burn injuries and multiple fractures and was referred to the AIIMS Trauma Centre. Two citizens of Kazakhstan, Shkeda, 45, and Tashtayev, 46, suffered minor burns and were released from the hospital after treatment.
Harun Nisha’s family alleged that there was a delay in treatment after she was taken to Safdarjung Hospital around noon. Abdul Mustakim, her eldest son, said that the smoke rising from the fire entered their residence on the fourth floor adjacent to the hotel.
He said: “Our house is located next to the hotel where the fire broke out. Shortly after the fire broke out, smoke began to fill our house. We tried to evacuate everyone, but my elderly mother was not able to walk properly and began complaining of breathing difficulties.”
The family rescued her and took her to Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital before referring her to Safdarjung Hospital. “Four hours have passed, and no proper treatment has been given to her,” Mustakim said, alleging insufficient treatment.
M said. Hussain, Harun Nisha’s youngest son, said the family had filed a written complaint. He added: “We were among the first responders to help the injured. We broke the glass walls to save people, but our mother is deprived of proper treatment. The hospital staff told us that she would have to share a bed with two or three patients and asked us to provide written consent.”
Later, her family transferred Harun Nisha to another hospital, and her condition could not be immediately confirmed. Hindustan Times reached out to Safdarjung Hospital regarding the allegations, but no response was received at the time of publication.
At Safdarjung Hospital, Ndubusi Okili, 39, a Nigerian national who sustained about 25% of burn injuries, remains in the burns ward. Two of their acquaintances, who requested to remain anonymous, said they spent the day searching hospitals after learning that two people from their village in Nigeria were injured in the fire.
“So far, we have been able to locate O’Kelly only after the police informed us that he was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. For a while, we did not know whether he was alive, injured or dead,” one of them said.
They said they were also looking for Chimeka Ikeazu, whose family in Nigeria had been unable to contact him.
Officials at Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital said that Rihanna suffered multiple fractures after she jumped from the building during the fire.
“More than two or three bones were broken when she was taken to the hospital. She also sustained minor burns and is currently undergoing treatment at the AIIMS Trauma Centre,” an official said.
Meanwhile, 10 police personnel involved in the rescue operations have been admitted to the trauma center of AIIMS. According to an AIIMS statement, all 10 are in stable condition and are being discharged from the hospital.
Harjian (40) said that police personnel rushed to the scene after receiving a PCR call at around 8.30 am and suffered inhalation injuries during rescue efforts. Another police officer, Dinesh (35 years old), said he saved five people before he collapsed.
“This is part of our duty and responsibility. We have to go to any extent to save lives,” he said.
Ravi Kant, who said he saved two people, added: “We prioritize people’s welfare above all else. It makes no difference to us if we risk our lives in this process.”
Of the 28 survivors, eight of them were discharged after treatment, and the remaining 20 are still undergoing medical care, according to a document published by Delhi Police. The injured were admitted to multiple facilities, including three at AIIMS Trauma Centre, one at the burn ward of Safdarjung Hospital, 20 at Max Hospital, Saket, and two at Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital, she added.
