‘We can't recognise them’: Families struggle to identify victims after Delhi hotel fire kills 21

New Delhi: Hours after a massive fire tore through a hotel in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday, grief and uncertainty gripped hospitals as relatives desperately searched for missing family members and friends.

The blaze at the Flourish Stay bed-and-breakfast hotel in the congested Hauz Rani locality claimed at least 21 lives and left several others injured. More than 40 people were rescued from the building as emergency teams battled the fire and evacuated occupants trapped inside.

At Max Hospital in Saket, scenes of anguish unfolded as relatives scanned victim lists, spoke to officials and made frantic phone calls in hopes of locating their loved ones.

Many families faced an additional challenge: several victims had suffered such severe burn injuries that identification became difficult.

"We can't recognise them by looking at pictures. It's unrecognisable. Everyone is severely burnt," a grieving relative said while waiting for information from hospital authorities.

Among those searching was Namit Goel, whose six relatives were staying at the hotel when the fire broke out. According to family members, they had travelled from Gurugram to Delhi for medical treatment and were staying at the property temporarily.

Goel said four bodies had been identified and kept at the mortuary of Max Hospital in Saket, while two other relatives were believed to be in another hospital. The family continued searching for confirmation about their whereabouts.

Elsewhere in the hospital, another man, Vivek, was searching for his 25-year-old friend Sujita, who was feared to be among the victims.

Police reportedly showed him photographs for identification purposes, but he was unable to recognise her among the images. He also said her mobile phone could not be traced, adding to the uncertainty surrounding her condition.

The fire triggered panic among hotel occupants as thick smoke rapidly spread through the building. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes, with guests attempting to escape while rescue teams worked to bring those trapped inside to safety.

According to officials present at the hospital, more than 20 victims were brought to Max Hospital following the incident. Several injured persons continue to receive treatment, while authorities work to identify the deceased and inform their families.

The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Police and fire department officials have launched an investigation to establish how the blaze started and whether any safety violations contributed to the tragedy.

As identification efforts continue, many families remain caught between hope and fear, waiting for answers about loved ones who were inside the hotel when the deadly fire broke out.