Bangladeshi dies, toll rises to 23 in B&B blaze

New Delhi: The death toll in the Hauz Rani fire rose to 23 after a foreign national succumbed to injuries on Wednesday, officials said.

Police identified the deceased as a Bangladeshi national undergoing treatment for severe burns. According to police sources, 14 of the 23 victims who lost their lives were foreign nationals. Among them, two were from Bangladesh. Nine of the deceased were Indians.

On Sunday, a Nigerian national died during treatment.

The fire broke out on June 3 in a Hauz Rani bed and breakfast facility. A major rescue operation was launched by firefighters and emergency responders. Twenty-one people died on the day of the blaze.

The blaze spread rapidly and, at the same time, the electrically operated room doors and the exit gate allegedly got jammed. Several B&B guests got trapped inside the building.

Police have, so far, arrested three people -- the B&B owner Lovkesh Bajaj, his accountant Jay Mishra, and the establishment’s cook.

Police said Mishra was responsible for handling billing, maintaining accounts, supervising staff and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the business.