Hotel Owner Lovkesh Bajaj Arrested Hours After 21 Killed In Horrific Fire At Malviya Nagar's Flourish Stay

New Delhi: Hotel Flourish Stay co-owner Lovkesh Bajaj has been arrested by the Delhi Police hours after a massive fire claimed the lives of 21 people at the bed-and-breakfast (B&B) establishment in South Delhi’s congested Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning. This comes after a Look-Out Circular (LOC) against Bajaj, who had been evading arrest since the tragedy occurred.

Lapses At Lovkesh Bajaj's Hotel

Initial investigations into the tragedy exposed glaring regulatory breaches at Lovkesh Bajaj's hotel. Reports indicate that while the property held a license to operate only six rooms under the government's Bed & Breakfast scheme, the management had illegally expanded the facility to house nearly 25 rooms.

Furthermore, investigators discovered that guests were being accommodated in the basement, drastically compounding the safety risks.

An opening investigation also revealed that all the windows in the building had been permanently sealed, trapping the occupants inside and choking off vital escape routes as smoke engulfed the rooms.

9 Indians, 12 Foreigners Killed

Among the 21 people killed by the horrific fire, nine were Indians and 12 were foreigners, mostly from Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria and Bangladesh.

The Indian nationals who lost their lives have been identified as:

• Shrutika Barnwal
• Tarjani Aggarwal
• Varya Aggarwal
• Jhaveri Aggarwal
• Vivek Aggarwal
• Ashok Aggarwal
• Kamla Aggarwal
• Prem Lata Aggarwal
• Jivisha Aggarwal

Max Healthcare Group Medical Director Dr Sandeep Budhiraja said that the injured people admitted to hospital had two or three types of injuries: lung injuries, minor burns, and bone injuries. "Because many patients claimed they jumped from high buildings, the resulting fractures were long bone fractures and pelvic bone fractures. One patient has a spinal injury and is undergoing neurosurgery," Budhiraja said.

Whole Family Wiped Out

Gurugram-based Vivek Agarwal and seven of his family members were staying at the B&B because Vivek's father was undergoing treatment for a lung ailment at the nearby Max Hospital. Vivek, his mother, his wife, two daughters and three other family members were killed in the tragic fire.

A neighbour said, “Vivek Agarwal and his family were extremely gentle souls. In fact, I had spoken to them just three days ago. I have only just learned that this tragedy has befallen them. It is a matter of such deep sorrow. Even now, I find it hard to believe that such a tragedy could happen to them. His father was admitted to a Hospital. They had gone there to visit him... We would meet and interact with them in the morning and evening. To lose such a fine individual, what can I say? May their souls rest in peace.”

PM Announces Ex-Gratia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to the families of the victims, and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

Magisterial Inquiry Ordered

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has announced that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the tragic fire incident at the B&B.

The CMO said, “The lapses that culminated in the tragic fire at a guest house in Malviya Nagar will be examined with utmost seriousness, and accountability will be fixed wherever it lies. A Magisterial Inquiry has been ordered, and an FIR has been registered against the owner of the property…Those responsible for this tragedy will be held accountable.”

The CM also promised that a city-wide crackdown will be launched against illegal properties, unauthorised guest houses and establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building by-laws. “Such premises will be sealed and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the CMO vowed.