NEW DELHI: Sealed glass windows, sensor-operated gates that reportedly failed during the blaze, overcrowded rooms, and multiple fire safety violations turned a hotel in Malviya Nagar into a death trap on Wednesday.The fire left 21 people dead and several others trapped as smoke and flames quickly engulfed the building, severely restricting occupants’ chances of escape.Preliminary findings by the Delhi Fire Services suggest that the devastating fire may have originated near the staircase on the ground floor. Officials told ANI that sealed windows may have further blocked escape routes for occupants.According to Delhi Fire Services sources, material kept near the staircase is suspected to have triggered the blaze, which then spread rapidly through the building. However, officials said the exact cause and nature of the material can only be confirmed after a detailed forensic investigation.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police have formed multiple teams to trace the hotel owner and are conducting raids across various parts of the national capital.According to officials, the hotel where the fire broke out was permitted to operate only six rooms under the bed-and-breakfast (B&B) scheme. However, the owner allegedly expanded the premises to 25 rooms. Fire officials said the five-storey establishment — operating under a bed-and-breakfast (B&B) licence that permitted only six rooms — was allegedly running about 25 rooms across the basement, ground floor and upper storeys. Furthermore, the building lacked a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC), they said.Chief fire officer Abhilash Kumar Malik said the building had a basement, a ground floor, and five upper floors, with rooms operating on nearly every level, including the terrace. He added that the structure’s design significantly worsened the situation for those trapped inside, leaving little scope for evacuation. “The building’s design made escape almost impossible for the occupants. The windows had been permanently sealed, resulting in no ventilation. Such buildings act like a shaft, where heat and smoke can engulf the entire structure within seconds, making evacuation extremely difficult,” Malik told PTI.
According to residents, the sensor-operated entrance gate stopped functioning after the fire broke out, while permanently sealed windows prevented occupants from escaping or accessing fresh air.Sheikh Ali, a local resident, told PTI that the six-year-old building had more than 25 rooms, including some in the basement. “The doors got locked due to the fire, and the windows were permanently sealed. People inside could not come out for a long time,” he said.Residents said locals used stones and hammers to break windows and the main gate to rescue trapped occupants. Several people were also seen jumping from upper floors after the windows were shattered, they added.
Fire officer Ravinder Singh said the building was filled with smoke when rescue teams arrived. “There was fire everywhere. We rescued those trapped inside and shifted them to hospitals. Some of the rescued persons were in serious condition,” he said, adding that many occupants were attendants of patients admitted to a nearby private hospital and included foreign nationals.Malik said the fire department received a call at 8:50 am and initially sent seven fire tenders. As more distress calls came in, the number was later increased to 17. “The first team immediately began rescue operations. As far as a fire NOC is concerned, we have not received any reference from either the building authorities or the licensing agency,” he said. (With agency inputs)
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