A massive fire engulfed a bed-and-breakfast in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar early Wednesday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 people and injuries to many others. Over 40 individuals were successfully rescued from the five-story building, which was operating as the Flourish Stay B&B.
Among the harrowing scenes, a woman holding her young child was seen jumping from the third floor. Eyewitnesses reported that local residents, acting swiftly, had spread mattresses on the road below to cushion the fall. Both the woman and child survived the perilous jump, though the woman reportedly sustained injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital.
Community Rises to the Occasion
The tragedy prompted an immediate outpouring of help from the local community. Residents rushed to the scene even before emergency services arrived, placing mattresses, blankets, and quilts on the ground. Many broke windows to create escape routes for those trapped inside, while others threw stones to shatter glass and aid occupants.
Eyewitness Sanjay Goyal described the chaos: "We saw thick smoke billowing from the building and realised people were trapped inside. Residents gathered blankets and quilts and tried to assist those who were trying to come out. We broke glass windows to create escape routes and managed to rescue several people."
Investigation Underway
Officials confirmed that several of the deceased were foreign nationals, and the death toll could potentially rise as many injured individuals remain in critical condition. The fire department received the alert around 8:30 AM, with multiple firefighting vehicles dispatched to the location.
Adding to the concern, investigations revealed that the Flourish Stay B&B was licensed for only six rooms but was operating with 25 rooms, significantly exceeding its legal capacity. The cause of the blaze, which reportedly included "blast-like sounds" heard by residents, is currently under investigation.
Relatives of victims faced immense difficulty identifying their loved ones due to severe burns. "We can't recognise them by looking at pictures; it's unrecognisable. Everyone is severely burnt," said one relative at Max Hospital, highlighting the extent of the devastation.