Four Dead in Bihar Hospital Fire; Delhi Hotel Blaze Kills 21

In another fire in India — this time in the state of Bihar — at least four patients died after a blaze erupted in a private hospital in the early hours of Thursday.

Reports said that the fire broke out in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Prasad Hospital in the Muzaffarpur district of the eastern state, with the fire department receiving a call around 3:55 a.m. local time (10:25 p.m. UTC on Wednesday).

The fire is suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit in the ICU, news agency PTI cited the hospital authorities as saying.

"The fire has been brought under control, and necessary legal action is being undertaken," Subrat Kumar Sen, the district magistrate, told the media.

He said that around 13-15 patients were being treated in the ICU, when the incident took place.

Police in New Delhi have arrested the owner of a hotel where a fire broke out on Wednesday, leaving 21 people dead.

Lavkesh Bajaj was arrested hours after a blaze tore through his Flourish Stay bed-and-breakfast, located in Malviya Nagar.

The Delhi police have registered a criminal case of culpable homicide as it investigates whether negligence and violations led to the deaths.

According to Indian media reports, the hotel was only approved to operate six rooms under the Delhi government's Bed & Breakfast policy.

However, the reports cited a probe into the incident that alleged the hotel was operating 25 rooms, including those in the basement.

What do we know about the fire?

As per reports, the blaze appears to have started in the hotel's kitchen, located in the basement, around 8.30 am on Wednesday.

As the flames consumed the five-storey building in the congested neighborhood, people stuck on the upper floors were seen jumping onto mattresses below.

Twelve foreign nationals and nine Indians were among those killed in the incident. Reports said that at least 47 people were pulled out from the fire and were receiving treatment in nearby hospitals.

The police are also looking to apprehend the manager of the establishment.

Delhi goes after establishments violating safety norms

The blaze is the deadliest New Delhi has witnessed since 2022 and has sparked a fire safety clamp down in the capital city.

According to a statement from the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, a month-long inspection drive will be conducted starting Thursday to check the compliance of safety rules in hotels, guesthouses, nursing homes, coaching centers, and other vulnerable commercial premises.

Non-compliant ​premises will be sealed.

"A city-wide crackdown will be launched against illegal properties, unauthorized guest houses and establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building by-laws. Such premises will be sealed and prosecuted in accordance with the law," the Delhi chief minister's office said on X.

Meanwhile, India's foreign ministry said that it was in touch with the embassies of the foreign nationals who died in the fire. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said that his ministry was extending all necessary assistance.

The hotel was popular among foreign medical tourists visiting a nearby hospital, reports said.

The foreign nationals ‌killed in the incident included people from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Liberia, Indian media reported.