Delhi Hotel Owner Drove Past Burning Building, Didn't Stop 'Out Of Fear'

Lavkesh Bajaj, owner of Flourish Stay bed-and-breakfast where a horrific fire killed 21 people on Wednesday, drove past the burning building 'out of fear'. Bajaj was arrested hours after the blaze ripped through the establishment in the congested Hauz Rani area in Delhi's Malviya Nagar. During an interrogation late last night, Bajaj confessed to fleeing the spot while people tried to escape the fire that had engulfed the five-storey building.

Bajaj, during questioning, said that he simply drove past his burning hotel instead of stopping by to help people rescue those trapped in the fire. He fled the spot out of fear.

Where did Bajaj go?

He did not go home. Bajaj instead chose to wander around.

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Bajaj was suspected of fleeing the country as both his children are settled abroad which is why the Delhi Police had initiated the process of issuing a lookout circular (LOC) against Bajaj and his wife.

Bajaj acquired the building in 2022 from one Ahluwalia and was operating a hotel-cum-guest house within it. The building previously housed a Khadi store. Even at that time, the building was in a highly dilapidated condition, he said.

A viral video shows a foreign national standing on the roof of a burning five-storey building, clutching a pole, looking for a way down.

The investigation has revealed that Bajaj initially started his business in a two-storey building and later added two and a half floors to it.

Bajaj confirmed obtaining a license under the 'BnB' (bed-and-breakfast) scheme, under which only six rooms are allowed. However, he was allegedly operating 25 rooms, including some in the basement.

Though Bajaj is the sole owner of the B&B, he had handed over the entire management to Jai Mishra. All hotel licenses were issued in Jai Mishra's name, he said.

The cops are also looking for hotel manager Jai Mishra.

The Delhi Police are verifying all claims made by Bajaj during the interrogation and will produce him before a court today at around 2pm. The police are likely to seek a five-day remand for him.

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What Caused The Fire

A short circuit is said to have caused the fire that spread to the building, sources told NDTV on Thursday amid speculation that it was triggered by a cylinder blast. The hotel was operating without a fire no objection certificate (NOC).

The hotel had two kitchens -- one in the basement and the other one on the top floor. The two kitchens stored more than four liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, including commercial cylinders.

It housed a restaurant on the ground floor while the basement and the upper floors were being used as the hotel.

Security Lapses

The Bed and Breakfast scheme, introduced under the Incredible India B&B framework (2007), was designed to promote safe and affordable home-stays in residential neighbourhoods.

The framework lays down the following guidelines:

• Maximum six double-bed rooms per property
• Mandatory owner residence on the premises
• Strictly residential character of the premises
• Compliance with fire safety, ventilation and basic infrastructure norms

Also Read | Did Lapses At Delhi's B&B Hotels Go Unchecked? Hauz Rani Fire Exposes Oversight Gaps

As part of the investigation, the police are probing if the B&B complied with the safety norms. The initial probe has found that the building had only a single entry and exit point, making it difficult for guests to evacuate. Additionally, the windows were sealed, and the main door was sensor-operated.

Of the 21 people who were declared dead on arrival, 12 have been identified as foreign nationals.

12 Foreign Nationals Killed In Delhi Hotel Fire

The fire broke out at around 8:30 am in the basement of the B&B and subsequently spread to the upper floors. Most of the guests were asleep when the blaze erupted. A total of 17 fire tenders were deployed to bring the fire under control and at least 58 people were rescued and rushed to nearby Max Hospital. Of the 21 people who were declared dead on arrival, 12 have been identified as foreign nationals. 

The dead include eight of a family that had come to see their ailing relative. Vivek Agarwal, a chartered accountant from Sector 46 in Gurugram, had travelled to Delhi to visit his father - 80-year-old Radhe Shyam Agarwal - who is currently receiving treatment at Max Hospital in Delhi. His wife, Tarjani Agarwal, two daughters, Jivisha and Varya and four other relatives had accompanied him. Together they had booked two rooms in the Flourish Stay B&B and were having breakfast at the time of the incident. With the death of eight family members dead, the only survivor is Vivek's father.