Illegally built rooms, no fire NOC, single entry-exit: Reasons behind high death toll in Delhi's Malviya Nagar hotel fire

NEW DELHI: Illegal construction, a locked terrace, no fire safety certificate, a single entry and exit point, and a lack of basic firefighting systems — Flourish Stay Bed and Breakfast seems to have flouted every rule in the book.

An initial probe has revealed that the B&B was licensed to operate as a six-room establishment but had morphed into a 25-room hotel. Its B&B licence was valid till 2027.

A stay there for a day could cost between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000. It was frequented by medical tourists from Africa as it was close to the Max Hospital in Saket.

Senior fire officials also found that the premises lacked fire safety measures such as smoke detectors, automated fire alarms, sprinkler systems. Also missing was no-objection certificate.

Regarding the NOC, the accused told the police that any residential building that was less than 15 metres high does not need a NOC according to the rule 27 of Delhi Fire Service Rules, 2010.

Residents at the spot also attributed the high casualty count to the building’s access and locking systems. According to local people, the hotel’s main entrance was fitted with an electronically operated gate and, after 11pm, an additional iron grille gate outside it would also be locked for the night.

Residents alleged that when the fire broke out and power supply was disrupted, the electronic systems became inoperable. Several rooms were also allegedly fitted with electronic key-card locks, leaving guests unable to open their doors once the electricity failed.

“The moment the electricity went out, the main gate became completely jammed. The hotel staff used a control button to operate the gate, but because of the fire and power failure, it stopped functioning and people got trapped inside,” said Mohit, a resident.

The electronic gate was only one of the obstacles rescuers faced. “Outside the automated gate was another iron grille gate which was locked every night before people went to sleep. This is common in many hotels and shops here because of concerns about theft. Rescuers first had to cut through these barriers before they could reach the people trapped inside,” he said.

Another resident alleged that some hotel staff managed to leave the building when the smoke was first noticed.

Authorities found that the building had only one common entry and exit route and no independent external fire escape. When the fire broke out in the basement, smoke and flames quickly engulfed the staircase, cutting off the only escape route available to the guests on the upper floors.

The front facade was entirely covered, and every single window, including those in the bathrooms, was tightly sealed with toughened glasses. There was not a single window left open to allow for proper ventilation or smoke removal.

The ground floor housed a restaurant while the kitchen was allegedly operating from the basement. Police suspect that the presence of commercial LPG cylinders and combustible material on the premises may have aided the rapid spread of fire.