21 Dead in Delhi Fire: Hotel Owner Arrested for Illegal Operations

In a major breakthrough following the horrific fire at the 'Flourish Stay' hotel in Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, the Delhi Police have arrested the establishment's owner, Lavkesh Bajaj. Investigations have revealed a shocking disregard for safety norms and legal protocols. While the owner held a license to operate only six rooms under the 'Bed and Breakfast' policy, he had illegally expanded the facility to include 25 rooms. This overcrowding and lack of adequate escape routes are believed to be primary factors in the high casualty count, which has now reached 21 deaths and 35 injuries. The fire is suspected to have started due to a short circuit on the ground floor, quickly turning the building into a lethal trap. Following the arrest, the police have filed a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Bajaj. Meanwhile, the search for the hotel manager, Jay Mishra, is intensified as he remains absconding. The incident has exposed deep-seated corruption and negligence within the urban licensing framework, prompting citizens to demand a thorough audit of all such guest houses in the region. Survivors recount a terrifying scene of narrow, smoke-filled staircases that made evacuation nearly impossible for those trapped on the upper floors.