Delhi LG orders probe; Owner detained; President, PM express grief

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Home Minister Ashish Sood chaired an emergency high-level meeting on Wednesday following the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy and ordered a magisterial inquiry to probe the incident, while launching a one-month city-wide enforcement drive against fire safety violations beginning Thursday across all hotels, lodges, nursing homes, coaching institutes, and restaurants.

A comprehensive multi-departmental action plan was drawn up covering enforcement, prevention, and immediate relief for those affected. “Deeply distressed by the tragic fire at a hotel in Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar. My thoughts and condolences are with the families of the deceased, and I join all in praying for the swift recovery of those injured,” Sandhu posted on X.

Lovkesh Bajaj, owner of the Flourish Inn, Malviya Nagar, was been detained by Delhi Police on Wednesday night. His detention came hours after authorities issued a lookout notice against him when he remained untraceable following the tragedy.  Bajaj and his three business partners also reportedly own at least three hotels or guest houses within a 100-metre radius (and several more across Delhi), many of which similarly lacked proper licenses and fire safety documents.

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed condolences on Wednesday over the deaths in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire.