Firefighters rescued dozens from the unauthorized Malviya Nagar guesthouse, but 21 victims—including foreign medical tourists died in the basement-triggered inferno.
NEW DELHI, June 3 — Twenty-one people died after a fire tore through an illegally operated bed-and-breakfast above a South Delhi restaurant this morning. They couldn’t escape. The basement blaze rapidly consumed the multi-storey Lemon Green Inn in Malviya Nagar’s Hauz Rani area. Among the dead are foreign nationals from African and Central Asian countries who’d travelled to India for medical treatment.
Delhi Fire Services received the first frantic alerts just before 9:00 AM. Commanders dispatched multiple fire tenders, water bowsers, and rescue teams to the densely packed neighbourhood. Firefighters pulled over 40 survivors from the burning structure. But the death toll climbed rapidly. The blaze trapped victims in unauthorized upper-floor rooms while they slept. Authorities haven’t confirmed the exact cause. Preliminary investigations by fire officials point to either a short circuit or a gas cylinder blast in the basement restaurant.
The safety violations aren’t subtle. The building lacked proper fire exits. It operated without a basic fire safety No Objection Certificate. Owners crammed 25 unauthorized rooms into the space despite holding licenses for only a fraction of that number. So, how does a commercial guesthouse operate in the capital without fire clearances?
Delhi Police didn’t waste time. They immediately registered a First Information Report against the hotel owner. Officers are currently raiding locations to secure an arrest, and culpable homicide charges are imminent. Locals who watched the tragedy unfold described a chaotic scene. Thick black smoke poured into the sky. Trapped guests jumped from upper-floor windows. Neighbours scrambled to lay mattresses on the ground so they wouldn’t hit the pavement.
Firefighters killed the blaze quickly, but they couldn’t reach the upper floors in time.
Survivors with severe injuries are currently receiving treatment at nearby medical facilities, including AIIMS and Max Hospital. Many of these victims were already physically vulnerable. They’ve been staying at the Flourish Stay B&B—another name used for the property—specifically to access these nearby hospitals. Now, they’re fighting for their lives.
Political leaders didn’t wait long to issue statements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh in compensation for the families of the deceased. He also pledged ₹50,000 for the injured. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed their condolences. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded immediate accountability. But compensation cheques won’t bring back the foreign patients who died seeking healthcare in India’s capital.
This fire exposes a systemic rot in Delhi’s hospitality enforcement. Similar illegal structures choke densely populated neighbourhoods across the city, operating entirely unchecked. Following the disaster, officials promised sweeping investigations. A tragedy of this scale demands more than standard bureaucratic promises. Authorities must decide if they’ll actually lock down illegal guesthouses, or if they’ll just wait for the smoke to clear.
