Couple's last hug, bodies everywhere: Eyewitnesses recount horrors of Delhi fire tragedy that claimed 21 lives
PTC News Desk: Eyewitnesses of the devastating fire tragedy in Delhi's Malviya Nagar that claimed 21 lives have recounted the horror and described it as a preventable tragedy that quickly turned into a fatal trap.
One of the eyewitness said that a man and a woman were found dead in a locked washroom of the Delhi hotel-Flourish Stay BnB
"They did not die of fire. They died of smoke," said Mohammad Shoaib, one of the many who stepped up to help evacuate guests from the burning building.
“If they could have come earlier, casualties could have been prevented," he said. He also alleged delays in response after calls were made to the electricity department.
Another eyewitness who entered the burning building to rescue people said access inside was extremely difficult. According to him, the roof was locked, which may have prevented many occupants from escaping. “If the roof had been open, many more people could have survived,” he said while describing the desperate rescue efforts.
He added that several people trapped inside tried to break the windows using whatever objects they could find, including pressure cookers, but were unsuccessful. “The building's toughened glass could not be shattered even with stones,” he said. He believed that most of the victims died due to suffocation caused by heavy smoke.
Smoke Spread Rapidly Through the Building
The fire broke out between 8:00 and 8:30 am at the Flourish Stay B&B in the Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar and quickly spread throughout the multi-storey structure.
Eyewitnesses said thick smoke filled the building within minutes, trapping residents and leaving them with very few escape options. Some occupants were seen breaking windows and even jumping from the building as rescue operations got underway.
Authorities managed to rescue at least 58 people, but 21 victims were declared dead on arrival at hospitals. Officials said many of those who died suffered severe smoke inhalation, while several others remain in critical condition.
Investigators have found that the building was allegedly operating beyond its approved capacity and did not have a fire safety No Objection Certificate (NOC). Sealed windows and a sensor-operated entrance gate further complicated evacuation efforts once the fire spread, making it extremely difficult for people to escape.
- With inputs from agencies
