Malviya Nagar Fire News LIVE: Victims struggled to open doors due to digital locks; BnB owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, arrested

Malviya Nagar Fire News LIVE: So far, 21 people have been confirmed dead after a fire broke out at a hotel in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday.

Officials warned that the death toll could rise, as many of the injured remain in critical condition. The fire is among the deadliest fire tragedies reported in the national capital in recent years.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police has arrested the hotel owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, in connection with the incident, officials said.

Read also | A couple awaits rescue after a body was found in a Delhi fire in a locked bathroom

How did the fire turn deadly?

Initial investigations and statements by Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood indicate that the guest house was operating without the mandatory fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) and was allegedly violating multiple safety norms.

Officials said the building had only one entry and exit point, permanently locked windows, and a sensor-operated main door, factors believed to have severely hampered the evacuation as the fire spread quickly.

Police sources also revealed that although the property had permission for only six rooms under the Delhi government’s bed and breakfast policy, it was allegedly occupying around 25 rooms, including several in the basement.

Why are people trapped in fire?

Smoke filled the staircase, cutting off the main escape route for guests throughout the building (upper floors as well as the basement). Local residents claimed that some passengers had difficulty opening room doors equipped with digital locks.

Delhi Chief Minister orders a judicial inquiry into the Malviya Nagar hotel fire

The Delhi Chief Minister’s Office on Wednesday ordered a judicial inquiry into the devastating fire that broke out at a hotel in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar that claimed 21 lives.

In a post on X, the marketing director said that an FIR has been registered against the property owner and assured that all lapses that led to the tragedy will be thoroughly investigated.

“The lapses that culminated in the tragic fire at a guest house in Malviya Nagar will be examined with the utmost seriousness and accountability will be fixed wherever it may be,” the chief marketing officer said.