Investigation Reveals Safety Lapses in Malviya Nagar Guest House Fire

Safety Concerns Uncovered in Guest House Fire Incident

A devastating fire that broke out at a guest house in Malviya Nagar, the capital, has raised serious safety concerns, resulting in the tragic loss of 21 lives. Preliminary investigations indicate that the majority of the victims did not perish from burns but rather from smoke inhalation and suffocation. Following the incident, police conducted thorough searches of each room in the guest house, recovering approximately 50 to 60 mobile phones and around 30 passports from the premises. Even after the fire was extinguished, the rooms remained extremely hot, highlighting the intensity of the blaze and the severe impact of heat and smoke within the building. So far, authorities have identified five of the deceased, while the identification process for the remaining victims is ongoing.

Post-Mortem and Victim Identification

Post-mortem examinations are being conducted for all victims. According to police sources, there were no significant burn marks on the bodies, reinforcing the initial findings that most deaths were due to smoke inhalation.

Foreign Nationals Among Victims

Most of the foreign nationals staying at the guest house had arrived in India on medical visas. Reports suggest that around 80 foreign guests typically resided at the guest house each month. In compliance with regulations, C-forms for foreign guests were regularly filled out and submitted to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Once submitted, the details of these foreign nationals were also recorded in the Delhi police system.

Serious Security Flaws Identified

During the investigation, officials discovered multiple serious security flaws in the building. Sources revealed that the windows and glass panels were completely sealed, preventing any escape for smoke. Investigators also noted that the entrance to the basement was locked, taking nearly 10 minutes to open. It was reported that the basement door was secured from the inside, and subsequently, six to seven individuals were rescued from that area.