Sealed windows, no fire NOC: Safety lapses turn Malviya Nagar hotel blaze deadly

When the fire broke out, the glass windows were sealed, and the sensor-operated gates stopped working. The hotel in Malviya Nagar was overcrowded and failed to comply with fire safety rules, worsening the situation. Many people inside had no way to escape as smoke and flames spread quickly through the building. At least 21 people died in the fire, including six foreigners. Officials said the number could go up because nine people are still in critical condition. Fire officials said the five-storey building was licensed only as a bed-and-breakfast for six rooms. However, they believe it actually had about 25 rooms spread across the basement, ground floor, and upper floors. They also said the building did not have a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC).

Chief Fire Officer Abhilash Kumar Malik explained that the building had a basement, ground floor, and five upper floors. There were rooms on almost every level, including the terrace. He said the building's design made it harder for people to get out during the fire. "The building's design made escape almost impossible for the occupants. The windows were permanently sealed, so there was no ventilation. Such buildings act like a shaft, letting heat and smoke engulf the entire structure within seconds. Evacuation becomes extremely difficult," Malik said. Residents said the sensor-operated entrance gate stopped working after the fire started. The permanently sealed windows kept people from escaping or getting fresh air. Sheikh Ali, who lives there, said the building is six years old and has more than 25 rooms, including some in the basement.

"The fire locked the doors, and someone had permanently sealed the windows. As a result, people inside could not escape for a long time," he said.

Residents said that local people used stones and hammers to break the windows and the main gate to help those trapped inside. After the windows were broken, several people jumped from the upper floors to escape.

Another resident, Asif, said the fire extinguishers in the building were too small to handle such a big fire. He said people first noticed the fire between 8 and 8:30 in the morning, but by then it had already spread widely.

He explained that there was a blast in an electrical plug after someone switched off a kitchen appliance. People tried to put out the fire with extinguishers, but the flames spread quickly.

"Within five minutes, the ground floor filled with thick smoke. In another six to seven minutes, the fire had spread to the upper floors. Several people broke window panes on the second floor and jumped to save themselves," the eyewitness said.

Officer RavinderSingh said that when rescue teams arrived, the building was already full of smoke.

"There was fire everywhere. We rescued those trapped inside and shifted them to hospitals. Some rescued persons were in serious condition," he said. He also said that many of the people staying in the hotel were patient attendants from a nearby private hospital, and some were foreign nationals.

Malik said the fire department got a call at 8:50 am and sent seven fire trucks. As more emergency calls came in, they increased the number to 17.

"The first team began rescue operations immediately. Regarding a fire NOC, we have not received any reference from either the building authorities or the licensing agency," he said.