Malviya Nagar hotel fire death toll rises to 22 after victim succumbs to injuries

New Delhi: A Nigerian citizen who was injured during a fire at a south Delhi hotel in Malviya Nagar died while undergoing medical treatment, raising the total number of fatalities from the disaster to 22, law enforcement officials announced Sunday.

The blaze tore through the Flourish Stays B&B in the Hauz Rani neighbourhood on Wednesday morning, initially claiming the lives of 21 individuals, including a 16-year-old girl and numerous foreign nationals from Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Iraq, Congo, Mozambique, and Liberia.

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A foreign national who was receiving care at a Delhi medical facility passed away late last night from his injuries, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal.

The latest death brings the total fatalities to 22 in what has become one of the most severe fire disasters documented in the national capital in recent times.

Authorities identified the deceased as Okale, a Nigerian national who had suffered extensive burns during the incident. He was first taken to Max Hospital before being transferred to the specialised burn unit at Safdarjung Hospital as his medical state declined.

Okale had been placed on a ventilator and remained in critical condition under constant medical observation. He died from his injuries during treatment on Saturday, police stated, noting that his body has been transferred for an autopsy.

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In the meantime, Delhi Police have taken both the hotel owner and the establishment's cook into custody, asserting that negligence may have been a factor in igniting the flames. Law enforcement personnel are also interrogating multiple other individuals linked to the business.

According to sources within the police department, initial evidence indicates that the actions of the cook might have played a part in the start of the fire. Detectives are currently analysing the precise timeline of the disaster and interviewing various people associated with the lodging facility.

Law enforcement had previously taken hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj into custody, charging him with offences that include culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The ongoing inquiry centres on suspected safety breaches, the unauthorised addition of guest rooms, and failures in fire prevention protocols.

The official police report filed by the Malviya Nagar Police reveals that investigators discovered the business was running 25 guest rooms, despite only holding authorisation for six.

Officials also documented suspected flaws in the building's ventilation system and emergency readiness. The entrance to the basement was locked when emergency crews arrived at the scene, which required firefighters to slice through the door to conduct rescue efforts.

Several police units are currently deployed to locate Jay Mishra, an associate of the property owner, who has been missing since the fire occurred.

With inputs from PTI