New Delhi, June 4: The Delhi Police have identified nine of the twelve foreign nationals who lost their lives in the Malviya Nagar fire incident. The tragic blaze at the ‘Flourish Stage’ hotel resulted in the deaths of 21 individuals, including nine Indian citizens and twelve foreign nationals from countries such as Bangladesh, Liberia, Nigeria, and Mozambique.
Authorities have sent a list of the deceased foreign nationals to the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate the process of repatriating their bodies to their respective countries. The identifications were made based on passports and other documents found at the scene.
The police have completed DNA profiling for all foreign nationals, a process conducted after obtaining necessary permissions from the embassies of the respective countries. Post-mortem examinations of the bodies were also carried out following approval from the embassies.
According to the Delhi Fire Service, the fire affected the basement, ground floor, and five upper floors of the building. An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway. The blaze broke out in the morning and quickly spread through multiple floors of the high-rise building.
Rescue teams managed to evacuate 47 individuals, with 26 injured persons receiving treatment in various hospitals across the city.
In a related development, the hotel owner, Lovkesh Bajaj, has been arrested by the Delhi Police. He was taken into custody while authorities were searching for him and his wife, both of whom were already subjects of a Look Out Circular (LOC).
This arrest comes as investigative agencies probe potential violations of safety regulations, administrative negligence, and other possible shortcomings. Officials are also examining whether essential fire safety measures were in place at the hotel and if it was operating in compliance with legal requirements.
The Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) has assured strict action against those found responsible in this case. They stated that action would likely be taken within a week of the investigation report submission against any individuals deemed culpable.
The police have registered a case under involuntary manslaughter and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), investigating whether serious negligence and violations of safety regulations contributed to the high number of fatalities.