Video: From illegal rooms to no fire NOC, Delhi hotel blaze exposes civic failure

A devastating fire at Flourish Stays bed and breakfast in Delhi's Hauz Rani area claimed 21 lives, including eight members of a single family from Ajmer and Kishangarh. The accommodation, located near a private hospital in Saket, primarily housed medical tourists. Amid the tragedy, locals displayed immense bravery, using mattresses to rescue several people who jumped from the burning building to save their lives. The incident has exposed severe civic and administrative lapses. The facility, which had permission for only six rooms, was illegally operating 25 rooms, including in the basement, and running a full restaurant without a fire no-objection certificate. The tragedy raises serious questions about the negligence of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the tourism department. It also casts a shadow over the Delhi government's recent draft policy that proposed relaxing bed and breakfast norms and allowing private fire auditors, highlighting a systemic failure in enforcing basic fire safety regulations in the national capital.