A fire at a bed-and-breakfast hotel in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar killed at least 21 people, including 17 foreign nationals, and injured several others on Wednesday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased, expressing condolences for the tragedy that unfolded at around 8:48 AM, according to livemint.com.
Delhi Police launched a manhunt for Lovkesh Bajaj, co-owner of the hotel Flourish Stay, after preliminary investigations revealed serious violations of building regulations and fire safety norms. Police officers visited Bajaj's residence as part of their probe. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that the Ministry of External Affairs is coordinating with foreign embassies regarding the victims, as reported by livemint.com.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about fire safety compliance in Delhi's hospitality sector, especially in densely populated areas. The hotel had permission for only six rooms but was operating 24, raising questions about regulatory oversight. The loss of life, including numerous foreign nationals, has drawn attention to the need for stricter enforcement of safety standards in similar establishments, livemint.com noted.
The Delhi Police have issued a lookout circular for Lovkesh Bajaj and intensified their investigation into the fire. The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the ₹2 lakh ex gratia compensation for the victims' families on Wednesday evening, marking a swift government response to the disaster, according to livemint.com.