Delhi Hotel Owner Arrested After Fire Kills 21
Delhi Police have arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, owner of the building that housed Flourish Stay B&B in Malviya Nagar, after a major fire killed 21 people and injured several others.
Delhi Malviya Nagar Fire Kills 21
The fire broke out early Wednesday at the five-storey guest house in the congested Hauz Rani area of South Delhi. Emergency teams rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations as thick smoke spread through the building.
At least 21 people died in the blaze, including several foreign nationals. The injured were taken to hospitals including AIIMS Trauma Centre, Max Saket and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital.
Lavkesh Bajaj Arrested By Delhi Police
Police arrested building owner Lavkesh Bajaj hours after the incident. Earlier, authorities had issued alerts at airports and railway stations to prevent him from leaving the country.
Investigators are examining whether the property was operating in violation of building and fire safety norms. Reports suggest the guest house was functioning with more rooms than originally approved, raising questions over unauthorised expansion and regulatory oversight.
Fire Safety Violations Under Probe
The building reportedly lacked required fire safety clearance. Officials are also probing whether emergency exits, electrical systems and internal access controls contributed to the high death toll.
The tragedy has once again raised serious concerns over fire safety enforcement in Delhi’s guest houses, hotels and commercial buildings. Authorities are expected to examine the role of the building owner, hotel operators and civic officials as the investigation continues.
