Malviya Nagar fire toll rises to 22 as Nigerian national dies during treatment
Synopsis
A Nigerian national's death on Sunday pushed the Malviya Nagar hotel fire toll to 22 — 13 of them foreign nationals. With the hotel owner already in custody and the cook arrested for alleged negligence, Delhi has launched its most aggressive fire-safety enforcement drive in years, sealing 126 properties and issuing 130 notices in a single day.
Key Takeaways
The Malviya Nagar fire death toll rose to 22 on 7 June after a Nigerian national died during treatment.
The fire broke out on 3 June at the Flourish Stay Bed and Breakfast hotel in South Delhi ; 47 people were rescued.
13 foreign nationals and 9 Indians have died in the tragedy.
Hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj and the hotel's cook have both been arrested; the cook is accused of causing the fire through negligence.
The MCD has sealed 126 properties , demolished illegal constructions in 97 buildings , and issued 130 notices across 13 districts since Saturday.
The death toll in the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy climbed to 22 on Sunday, 7 June, after a Nigerian national succumbed to injuries during treatment, the Delhi Police confirmed. The blaze, which broke out on 3 June at the Flourish Stay Bed and Breakfast hotel — a multi-storied property in South Delhi — has now claimed the lives of 13 foreign nationals and 9 Indians.
Latest Casualty and Rescue Update
The Nigerian national who died on Sunday was among the injured still undergoing treatment following the fire. Authorities had earlier rescued 47 people from the building, with several victims continuing to receive medical care. The rising toll underscores the severity of the disaster and the ongoing risk to those who survived the initial blaze.
Arrests Made — Owner and Cook in Custody
The property's owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, was arrested following the tragedy and remanded to custody, officials said. Police noted that Bajaj had also been arrested previously for allegedly helping Bangladeshi nationals — a woman, her daughter, and her minor grandson — overstay in the country by facilitating the creation of forged documents.
On Saturday, 6 June, Delhi Police arrested a second accused — the hotel's cook — after investigations allegedly revealed that his negligence was the cause of the fire, according to officials.
Government Crackdown on Fire Safety Violations
Acting on the directions of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, government agencies including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and the fire department launched a sweeping inspection, sealing, and demolition drive on Sunday against unauthorised construction and fire safety violations.
The Revenue Department issued 130 notices across 13 city districts on Sunday, with the West District recording the highest count of 31 defaulters facing penal action, according to an official statement.
MCD Action: Demolitions, Sealings, and Show-Cause Notices
The MCD carried out demolition action at 3 properties on Sunday, a day after demolishing illegal constructions in 97 buildings on Saturday. Since Saturday, the civic agency has sealed 126 properties — 12 of which faced action on Sunday alone.
Additionally, the MCD has issued show-cause notices to 84 properties for unauthorised constructions, served sealing notices on 41 properties, and issued demolition orders against 33 others, the agency said in a statement. The crackdown signals a broader reckoning with fire safety compliance across Delhi's commercial accommodation sector.
With multiple accused in custody and enforcement drives intensifying, authorities are expected to widen the scope of inspections to other hotels and guesthouses in the capital in the days ahead.
Point of View
An owner with a prior arrest for document forgery, and 22 dead including 13 foreigners: the combination raises serious questions about how such establishments are licensed and inspected. The post-tragedy crackdown — 126 properties sealed in two days — implicitly concedes that enforcement was absent before lives were lost. The real accountability question is not just who started the fire, but who allowed the building to operate in the condition that made the fire fatal.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current death toll in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire?
The death toll stands at 22 as of 7 June, after a Nigerian national died during treatment. The victims include 13 foreign nationals and 9 Indians.
Where did the Malviya Nagar fire occur and when?
The fire broke out on 3 June at the Flourish Stay Bed and Breakfast, a multi-storied hotel in the Malviya Nagar area of South Delhi. Forty-seven people were rescued from the building.
Who has been arrested in connection with the Malviya Nagar fire?
Two people have been arrested: hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj, who was also previously arrested for allegedly helping Bangladeshi nationals forge documents, and the hotel's cook, whose alleged negligence is believed to have caused the fire.
What action has the Delhi government taken after the fire?
Acting on Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's instructions, the MCD, DDA, and fire department launched a city-wide crackdown. Since Saturday, 126 properties have been sealed, 97 buildings had illegal constructions demolished, and 130 notices were issued across 13 districts.
Why are so many foreigners among the victims?
The Flourish Stay Bed and Breakfast was a budget accommodation hotel that reportedly housed foreign nationals, including Nigerian and other international guests. Authorities have not yet detailed how the guests were accommodated relative to the building's licensed capacity.
