File picture: Firefighters at the site after a fire broke out at a bed-and-breakfast in a five-storey building, in New Delhi, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
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A day after desperate cries rang out for help from a hotel, silence has taken over the Malviya Nagar lane where a charred building, damp mattresses and sparse conversations pointed to the tragedy that unfolded in the hours gone by.A massive blaze erupted at Hotel Flourish Inn on Wednesday morning, leaving 21 people dead and dozens injured. Many of the victims were foreign nationals staying at the hotel while attending to relatives undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals.Visuals from Thursday morning showed several guest houses, homestays and shops in the area lying shut, with shutters pulled down and gates locked. Locals said occupants of these establishments had to pack their belongings and vacate as the owners were shutting them down.The usually busy neighbourhood appeared subdued, with fewer people on the streets and little commercial activity visible.People passing through the lane slowed down as they approached the gutted building. Some stopped briefly to look at the charred structure, while others quietly discussed the horrors that had unfolded there.A day after the incident, locals recalled seeing people trapped inside the building desperately banging on glass windows and calling for help as the fire spread."I received a call early in the morning from my tenant, who lives behind my house, informing me that a fire had broken out. I was alarmed and initially thought the fire was in my own house. As soon as I stepped outside, she told me that the fire was actually in the building behind ours," a local told PTI.He added that when he reached the spot, he saw several people trapped inside."They were hitting the glass windows with their hands and signalling for help. We immediately gathered stones, hammers and other tools to break the glass. After managing to create an opening, we went upstairs and helped rescue the people who were trapped inside," the local said.Residents further claimed that hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj, who was arrested on Wednesday evening, owned three hotels in the area, including Flourish Inn.Outside the hotel, mattresses that were used to cushion the fall of desperate people jumping from the hotel to escape the fire remained near the building, drawing the attention of onlookers.Hotel Flourish Inn before the fire showed a white multi-storey building with blue-tiled panels on its facade. The entrance had a short flight of stairs leading to a lift lobby, while another staircase beside it descended to the basement through a glass-door entry. Now only a charred building stands in its place.The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, officials said.According to investigators, the establishment had permission for only six rooms but was allegedly operating around 25 rooms, including some in the basement. Officials are also verifying reports that additional floors had been constructed without the required approvals.The building lacked a fire no-objection certificate (NOC), officials said. Police have arrested Bajaj and registered a case, including under charges of culpable homicide.Published on June 4, 2026
