13 Foreigners Among 21 Killed in New Delhi Hotel Fire; Owner Arrested for Safety Violations
NEW DELHI — June 5, 2026 — A massive fire at a bed-and-breakfast establishment in India’s capital has killed 21 people, including 13 foreign nationals who were in the country for medical treatment, authorities confirmed. The deadly blaze has triggered a citywide crackdown on illegal hotels and guesthouses operating without mandatory fire safety clearances.
The fire broke out around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, at the “Flourish Stay B&B” in the Malviya Nagar neighborhood of South Delhi . The building, located near Max Hospital, a major private medical facility that attracts patients from across India and abroad, had been converted into an unlicensed hotel housing patients and their families .
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13 Foreign Nationals Among the Dead
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Friday, June 5, that 13 foreign nationals died in the blaze . The victims came from eight countries:
- Nigeria: 4
- Kyrgyzstan: 3
- Mozambique: 1
- Liberia: 1
- Uzbekistan: 1
- Bangladesh: 1
- Congo: 1
- Iraq: 1
The deceased also include eight Indian nationals . Several victims were medical tourists seeking treatment at nearby hospitals, while others were family members accompanying patients .
The fire injured dozens more, with approximately 20 to 22 foreign nationals among the wounded . According to Max Hospital in Saket, 18 people were brought dead to its emergency department, while 15 others were admitted to the intensive care unit, including eight on ventilator support .
Multiple Safety Violations Turned Building into ‘Death Trap’
Investigations revealed extensive safety lapses that officials say turned the building into a virtual death trap. According to police and fire department officials, the establishment had permission to operate only six rooms under Delhi’s bed-and-breakfast policy but was illegally operating approximately 25 to 28 rooms .
The five-story building had been illegally expanded without informing authorities. Reports indicate that the structure originally had only a ground floor and one upper story six to seven years ago, when fire clearance was not required . Additional floors were allegedly added later, bringing the building’s height to over 15 meters—a threshold that legally requires a Fire Safety No-Objection Certificate from the Delhi Fire Service. No such certificate was ever issued .
The building presented several critical safety hazards:
- A single entry-exit point, creating a bottleneck for evacuation
- Permanently sealed windows that trapped occupants inside
- A sensor-operated main door that may have malfunctioned or locked during the fire
- A locked basement entrance that firefighters were forced to cut open during rescue operations
- A narrow lane location that prevented fire tenders from accessing the building easily
According to preliminary findings by the Delhi Fire Service, the fire originated near the staircase on the ground floor, where combustible material had been stored . Officials also found LPG cylinders on the premises, though the exact cause remains under investigation .
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Owners Arrested as Probe Widens
Delhi Police arrested hotel co-owner Lovkesh Bajaj on the day of the fire. The Saket Court remanded him to four days of police custody . Bajaj has been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, mischief by fire, and negligence endangering life .
Police have issued a Lookout Circular against Bajaj’s wife as investigators probe how a bed-and-breakfast permit for six rooms was illegally expanded into a 25-room hotel . Authorities are also searching for Jay Mishra, the account manager in whose name the B&B license was issued, who has been absconding since the fire .
The investigation has revealed that Bajaj had prior legal troubles—he was arrested last year in a case involving alleged facilitation of illegal stay for Bangladeshi nationals through fraudulently obtained Indian identity documents .
Rescue Efforts and Eyewitness Accounts
More than 40 people were rescued from the burning building and transported to nearby hospitals . Witnesses described harrowing scenes as trapped occupants jumped from upper floors to escape the flames.
“People spread mattresses, and a woman from the third floor jumped on it with a little kid,” witness Sher Khan told Reuters .
Sixty-one-year-old Mohammed Riazuddin, who runs a mattress shop nearby, described how he and his son rushed to help when they saw the fire. “We put mattresses on the ground and told them to jump down,” he told reporters .
One family lost eight relatives in the fire. Vivek Agarwal, who was accompanying his hospitalized father, called his brother Vikram from the basement to say he was trapped. By the time firefighters pulled him out, attempts at CPR failed .
Government Response and Citywide Crackdown
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, demanding a report within three days . The Delhi government also announced a citywide crackdown on illegal properties, unauthorized guesthouses, and establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building by-laws .
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu ordered a month-long fire safety inspection drive across hotels, nursing homes, coaching institutes, restaurants, and other commercial establishments beginning June 4 .
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood, who chaired a high-level review meeting following the incident, stated that a coordinated citywide fire safety enforcement campaign would be initiated immediately .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, announcing financial compensation for the families of those killed . President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her sympathies to the bereaved families .
Investigation Continues
A forensic team spent hours at the site collecting samples of burnt electrical wires and electronic devices as investigators examine the possibility of a short circuit or electrical overloading as the cause .
Police continue to search for Mishra, with multiple teams formed to trace him, including one sent to his home state of Bihar . Investigators believe Mishra may possess crucial information regarding the hotel’s finances, staff appointments, guest records, and regulatory clearances .
SOURCES / INPUTS
- Asianet Newsable: Malviya Nagar fire: MEA confirms death of 13 foreign nationals
- ABC News: Fire at Delhi hotel kills at least 21 people
- Asianet Newsable: Delhi: Fire at Malviya Nagar hotel claims 21 lives, probe ordered
- ThePrint: 13 foreign nationals died in Malviya Nagar B&B blaze, MEA in touch with embassies & families
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