Lookout circular issued against hotel owner, wife after 21 die in Delhi fire

NEW DELHI: A lookout circular has been issued against the owner of a hotel building in Malviya Nagar and his wife after a fire that killed 21 people in south Delhi on Wednesday.

The hotel was allegedly operating at nearly four times its permitted capacity, had no fire safety clearance, and was functioning from a building where additional floors were constructed without informing authorities, officials said.

A police source said teams have conducted raids at multiple locations, including the residences of the building owner and the licence holder registered with the tourism department.

“Multiple teams are searching for the accused. Alerts have also been issued to railway and airport authorities to prevent them from fleeing,” the source said.

According to investigators, the building owner has been identified as Lavkesh Bajaj, while the tourism department licence was issued in the name of Jai Mishra.

The hotel was being run by three partners, who are believed to own several other hotels and guesthouses across Delhi, police sources said.

Narrow lanes, packed hotels: Malviya Nagar locality under spotlight

The Press Enclave Road area in Malviya Nagar, a densely packed cluster of hotels, inns, and guest houses catering largely to patients visiting the nearby Max Hospital, has also come under scrutiny following the fire at a local bed and breakfast hotel.

Just a short walk from Max Hospital, the locality has evolved into a preferred hub for foreign and domestic patients seeking affordable lodging during treatment.

A walk through the area revealed dozens of hotels and guest houses operating in close proximity, many housed in multi-storey buildings squeezed between restaurants and commercial establishments.

The area is dotted with narrow passages, in some places barely wide enough for a person to pass, with adjoining buildings connecting hotels, restaurants, and service areas.

Locals estimate that more than 35 hotels and guest houses operate in the neighbourhood, many offering budget accommodation for patients and their attendants.

Among those staying in the area is Musa Okoro, a foreign national undergoing treatment at Max Hospital.

Recounting the events of Wednesday, Okoro said he returned from the hospital to find a large crowd gathered outside a neighbouring hotel.

'Building design made evacuation difficult'

"As far as a fire NOC is concerned, we had not received any reference from either the building authorities or the licensing agency," deputy chief fire officer A K Malik told PTI.

Officials said the owner had applied for a trade licence, but the complete building plan was not submitted.

The owner had been asked to provide the plans to the Building Department, which was required to share them with the Fire Department, but the process was never completed.

The design of the building made evacuation extremely difficult, Malik said.

"Buildings of this nature act like a shaft, where heat and smoke generated by a fire can engulf the entire structure within seconds, making evacuation even more challenging," he said.

(With agency inputs)