Malviya Nagar Fire: Delhi B&B had approval for 6 rooms but was operating 24

Investigations into the deadly fire at a bed-and-breakfast in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar have revealed that the establishment was allegedly operating far beyond its permitted capacity, raising serious questions over licensing and safety violations.

Officials said the property, Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani, had approval from the Delhi Tourism department for only six rooms under the bed-and-breakfast scheme. However, preliminary findings suggest it was operating 24 rooms, with listings on online booking platforms also reflecting the higher capacity.

The fire, which broke out on Wednesday morning in a five-storey building, claimed at least 21 lives and left several others injured. More than 40 people were rescued from the smoke-filled structure and rushed to nearby hospitals.

Authorities are now examining whether violations of fire safety norms, overcrowding, and structural deficiencies contributed to the scale of the tragedy. Officials also confirmed that the building had a basement, ground floor, and multiple upper floors, with reports suggesting poor ventilation and limited exits.

Eyewitness accounts described chaos at the site, with people jumping from upper floors to escape thick smoke and flames. Residents and local shopkeepers assisted rescue efforts before emergency teams arrived, using mattresses and makeshift support to help survivors.

Some survivors alleged that the building had only one exit and inadequate ventilation, though these claims are still under verification. Officials are also probing whether the fire originated from a restaurant operating on the ground floor of the premises.

A detailed investigation is underway to determine possible violations of building codes, tourism licensing rules, and fire safety regulations.