At least 21 people have died and several being treated for severe burns, after a fire broke out Wednesday in a restaurant in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area.
The fire has been extinguished, but rescue and search operations are still underway, and all concerned agencies continue to be deployed at the spot, a police officer said. Around 40 people have been rescued so far.
A senior Delhi Police officer said they received information about the fire at 8.48 am at Flourish Stays B&B in south Delhi. Local police staff reached the spot and commenced rescue, evacuation, and relief operations. Fire officials said the blaze triggered panic as guests tried to escape their smoke-engulfed rooms.
Several of the injured were rushed to the nearby Max Hospital, Saket, and the AIIMS trauma centre for treatment.
Stay tuned to ThePrint for updates.
Malviya Nagar fire | LIVE UPDATES
6.30 pm: Deaths mostly due to asphyxia, those who jumped off top floors in critical condition
The majority of those killed in the fire succumbed not to burn injuries, but to asphyxia after inhaling dense smoke generated by the blaze that broke out on the ground floor of the guest house.
According to a doctor at Max Hospital, the most critical patients currently on ventilator support are those who jumped from the third floor in a desperate bid to escape the flames. In addition to smoke inhalation-related lung damage, they sustained severe long-bone, pelvic, and spinal injuries from the fall, Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, group medical director, Max Hospital, told reporters in a press conference.
“Very few cases of burn injuries were there. Only one case with 25 percent burns came to us and that was on a ventilator. After the patient became stable, he was referred to Safdurjung,” he said. “In the rest of the cases, there were only minor burns.”
Budhiraja said that in the majority of cases, asphyxia caused by smoke inhalation and exposure to toxic gases led to severe lung injuries and death.
“Thirty-nine patients were brought to us, of whom 18 were declared dead. The major cause of death was asphyxia due to smoke inhalation. Fifteen patients are in the ICU, eight of them are on ventilator support and are undergoing treatment,” he said.
He explained that patients were brought with three types of injuries—burns, though in very few cases, lung injuries caused by smoke inhalation and a combination of lung injuries and fractures sustained while jumping from the second and third floors.
Read Ananya Bhardwaj’s report.
5.00 pm: Proximity to Max Hospital was B&B’s main selling point. Most killed in blaze were patients, attendants
Proximity to the upmarket Max Hospital in Saket was the main selling point of the Flourish Stays B&B.
Most posts on social media by owners and managers of the hotel promoted the fact that it was just a few metres from the flagship Max Hospital. On about two dozen posts on the hotels’ social media page, the property owners reached out to prospective guests, telling them that the best part about the property was its location, “just five minutes from Max Hospital Saket”.
The B&B, over four floors, was mostly used by patients receiving treatment at the hospital and their attendants. Consequently, a majority of those who died in the fire were either patients or their attendants, according to fire officials.
Sources in the Delhi Police identified the owner of the property as Lovkesh Bajaj, who registered the property with the GST department in August 2023. Sources said multiple teams have been formed to arrest the accused.
According to Delhi Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood, the property, located near Max Hospital, was registered with the Delhi government under its bed and breakfast scheme. However, the details of the licences granted to the hotel, and the number of rooms the hotel was allowed for commercial use, are under investigation.
4.45 pm: A look at how fires have plagued Delhi in the last 8 years
The cause of Wednesday’s fire has not yet been ascertained. The incident adds to the list of such incidents that have occurred in the city in the past eight years.
28 May 2026—Dhanendra Kumar, the first chairman of the Competition Commission of India, died in a fire that started in an AC in his home in south Delhi’s Hauz Khas area. 80-year-old Kumar died of smoke inhalation.
3 May 2026—A fire at a residential building in Vivek Vihar in east Delhi claimed nine lives and injured four. The cause was suspected to be an AC unit short circuit in the middle of the night.
18 March 2026—Nine people lost their lives and three were injured in a fire at a shop on the ground floor of a residential building in south-west Delhi’s Palam. A short circuit was suspected.
24 June 2025—Four died in a fire at a chemical factory in north-west Delhi’s Rithala in the Rohini area. The five-storey building stored chemicals in the ground floor, and this accelerated the fire. There were no emergency exits.
14 March 2024—In another incident in east Delhi’s Shahdara, 4 people died in a fire in a residential building.
15 February 2024—11 were killed at a paint factory in north Delhi’s Alipur as fire spread after a chemical explosion. Workers were trapped as the building had no proper exits. The fire later spread to a drug rehabilitation centre before it could be brought under control.
13 May 2022—A fire in a four-storey commercial building near Mundka metro station in west Delhi killed 27 people. Caused by a short circuit, the situation was made worse due to the lack of fire exits or fire extinguishers. The fire took over nine hours to douse.
23 December 2019: Nine people were killed in a fire at a cloth godown in north-west Delhi’s Kirari. Here too the cause was a short circuit.
8 December 2019—Delhi’s worst fire in the 21st century was at the Anaj Mandi in north Delhi, where 47 were killed and 56 injured. It started with a short circuit in an illegal shoe and schoolbag-making factory. Iron grilles prevented the escape of the over 100 migrant workers sleeping inside.
12 February 2019—17 died in a fire at Hotel Arpit Palace in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh. The fire started in a kitchen on the roof that was operating illegally.
20 January 2018—Another 17 were killed at a firecracker factory in north-west Delhi’s Bawana.
4.00 pm: Some jumped, others were too weak to run
It was around 8.15 am when residents of South Delhi’s Hauz Rani heard loud screams coming from a fully occupied four-storey bed and breakfast. Within minutes, the guesthouse, Flourish Stays, that hosts foreign nationals undergoing treatment at the nearby Max Hospital along with their caregivers, turned into a death trap.
Eyewitnesses said they heard what they assumed to be multiple cylinder blasts as the fire spread rapidly. Wires hanging from a nearby electric pole further fuelled the blaze.
More than 40 people, who were either undergoing treatment or recovering from surgery, were inside the building at the time. A total of 21 people have been confirmed dead so far. “They were too weak to escape,” an eyewitness said.
Bystanders said people were trapped inside as the building had only one entry and exit point, which was blocked by the fire. “It was extremely scary. The fire started on the ground floor and then spread upwards. We could hear loud screams and multiple blasts. We tried to enter the building but could not because the only entrance, which is quite narrow, was blocked. Another gate at the rear also appeared to be locked from inside,” said one.
In a desperate attempt to rescue those trapped in the building, employees of a nearby cotton mattress shop spread mattresses on the ground and urged people to jump.
Read Alisha Dutta’s report.
3.50 pm: Forensic team at site of fire
A team of forensic experts is present at the site of the fire.
3.30 pm: Police file FIR for ‘culpable homicide’
The Delhi Police have filed an FIR under charges of culpable homicide in the fire.
The blaze erupted at the Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani, a congested locality in Malviya Nagar, which spread further to another establishment called Micasa Inn B&B.
3.05 pm: Rescue operation ends
The rescue operation at the homestay has ended and the fire has been completely extinguished, Delhi Divisional Officer (DO) Ravinder Singh says, “The rescue operation has been successfully completed. The fire has been completely extinguished. The casualties have been transported to the hospital.”
2.50 pm: ‘People were jumping from the building’
An eyewitness says that he and his friend saw a very intense fire at around 9.30 am. “My friend and I were on a scooter at that time, the entire fire was raging, and people were jumping from the building from here and there. We saw about five people jumping. One person also broke their leg. The entire road was blocked here. There was a crowd.”
Another local resident says, “I was going to the shop in the morning. There was a small fire here at first, then it kept increasing. As the fire increased, it seemed as if there was no way to jump from here. People spread mattresses, and some from the 3rd floor jumped on it with a little kid. She was saying that she fractured her leg. The public made a lot of effort.”
2.40 pm: First reactions, from PM to Delhi CM, Rahul to Kejriwal
Reactions have been pouring in from prominent political leaders on the tragic fire. Here’s what they have said:
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2.30 pm: ‘B&Bs, hotels & guest houses not following protocol will be sealed’
Malviya Nagar MLA Satish Upadhyay tells reporters that an inquiry will be conducted and those responsible for breaking norms will be immediately arrested.
“Other B&Bs, hotels, and guest houses that are not following protocols will be sealed,” he says.
2.20 pm: ‘Fire started from ground floor’
Jitendra Kumar, SDM, DDMA, South District, says that a total of 47 people have been rescued, and 21 people have died.
“There is a hotel located on the ground floor of the building. The fire department has not been able to confirm what caused the fire. The fire started from the ground floor…” he tells ANI.
#WATCH | Delhi | On fire at a restaurant in Malviya Nagar, Jitendra Kumar, SDM, DDMA, South District, says, "A total of 47 people have been rescued, and 21 people have died. The search and rescue operation concluded at 12:12 pm. The condition of 2-3 people is serious. There is a… pic.twitter.com/yIKU4ylygv
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2026
2.15 pm: 10 foreign nationals among dead
At least 10 of the 21 victims are confirmed to be foreign nationals, senior Delhi Police officers told ThePrint.
Multiple nationals from countries including Nigeria and some from Southeast Asia had come to India for medical treatment, a source said. “Majority of these victims were attendants of admitted patients at Max hospital, Saket.”
“The fire has been successfully extinguished with the assistance of 08 fire tenders. Through the coordinated efforts of police, fire services, and other emergency responders, more than 40 persons have been rescued and shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment,” South Delhi DCP Anant Mittal said.
2.05 pm: Necessary medical assistance & support being extended, says CM Rekha Gupta
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said earlier that Delhi government is closely monitoring the situation. “All necessary medical assistance & support are being extended to the affected families,” she wrote on X.
Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the devastating fire incident in Malviya Nagar.
My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured and for strength & courage to all those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.…
— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) June 3, 2026
2.00 pm: ‘Building was smoke-locked’
“The building was smoke-locked. There was fire everywhere in the building… Maximum of the people staying in the hotel were attendants of patients admitted in Max Hospital, which is nearby. They belonged to foreign nations,” fire officer tells reporters.
VIDEO | Delhi Malviya Nagar Hotel Fire: Fire Officer Ravinder Singh, says, "The building was smoke-locked. There was fire everywhere in the building. We rescued those trapped inside and dispatched them to hospital. A few of those rescued were in serious condition. Maximum of the… pic.twitter.com/yLZp4gKK95
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 3, 2026
1.50 pm: 18 brought dead, 15 in ICU, 8 critical—Max Healthcare
“Of the 39 patients received at Max Hospital, Saket, 18 were brought dead, 15 are admitted in ICU, including 8 patients on ventilator and in critical condition. 5 patients with minor injuries were treated and discharged following primary medical care. 1 patient shifted to Safdarjung Hospital due to excessive burns. The deceased include both local and foreign nationals,” reads a statement from Max Healthcare.
Max Hospital, Saket is located opposite the bed and breakfast, where fire broke out.
1.40 pm: Foreign nationals among dead
According to police sources, foreign nationals comprised a majority of the 21 killed in the blaze.
The establishment had permission to operate only six rooms, but was operating 25 rooms in the basement.
CM Rekha Gupta said rescue & relief operations were launched immediately, with emergency agencies evacuating several people and treating the injured. The fire broke out early morning.
Visuals: Anoop Saxena pic.twitter.com/6b6v6VkNXI
— ThePrintIndia (@ThePrintIndia) June 3, 2026
1.30 pm: ‘Cause of fire not yet known’
Jitendra Kumar, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), South District, told reporters that they activated the DDMA cell as soon as they received a call.
“We have come to know that a restaurant was operating on the ground floor of this building. The cause of the fire is still not known. Four bodies have been retrieved so far. 7-8 people, including the injured, have been taken to the hospital for treatment. Some people from the floors above jumped out of the building on the mattresses laid on the road by the locals,” he said earlier Wednesday.
According to Delhi Police, the death toll rises to 20 in Delhi's Malviya Nagar restaurant fire incident.https://t.co/jpMqir8HGB pic.twitter.com/UFnQ4wLogh
— ThePrintIndia (@ThePrintIndia) June 3, 2026
1.15 pm: Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to the victims’ families
Expressing grief over the deaths, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to the victims’ families, and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased, while those injured in the incident will receive Rs 50,000.
“The loss of lives due to a fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi is tragic. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” said the ‘X’ post.