Delhi Malviya Nagar Fire: Negligence, illegal construction and corruption… 5 major reasons for Malviya Nagar fire

The terrible incident in Delhi has shocked the entire country. The question is whether the life of a common man has no value in this country. Is it not safe anywhere? Can he ever die due to the collapse of a bridge under construction? Can he ever get killed by the collapse of any building? Can a commercial building catch fire at any time? The reason for these questions is a horrific accident in the country’s capital Delhi, when 21 people were burnt alive in a fire in a hotel in Malviya Nagar. Of these, 17 were foreign nationals. The careless system called it an accident but it is not an accident but a murder because those who had to stop carelessness and corruption are blindfolded by carelessness and greed.

In the morning, ‘Flourish Stay B&B Hotel’, standing illegally on the corner of a narrow street of Malviya Nagar, suddenly started burning. Fierce flames started coming out from the rooms inside. A plume of black smoke was seen rising towards the sky. The people trapped inside started screaming. Seen saving his life by jumping from the hotel. Local people claim that they saved more than 10 people.

Waiting for fire brigade for 20 minutes

From what the eyewitnesses said, it is clear that the people nearby were the first to make efforts to save the people trapped in the hotel. Similarly, some locals were also heard talking at that time as to why the fire brigade had not arrived yet. There was a wait for the fire brigade for 20 minutes. It is clear from the videos and pictures that the hotel had turned into a fire pit, where the people inside looked helpless. The list of people killed in this accident is quite long but the list of negligence is even longer, after seeing which you will also say that this is not an accident but a murder.

1. The first and biggest negligence was that of the hotel where this accident happened. Only 6 rooms were allowed to be built there but 25 rooms were built.
2. Second negligence: This permission to build 6 rooms was obtained from Delhi Government under Bed and Breakfast license, but it was being used like a commercial hotel.
3. Third negligence: Out of the 25 rooms which were built illegally, many of them were also in the basement. Where the fire broke out. When people ran outside, they found the channel locked, after which many people died by burning themselves alive there.
4. Fourth negligence: The hotel did not even have NOC from the fire department.
5. The fifth important thing, which is also the trigger point of this accident, is that there were not enough fire extinguishers in the building to extinguish the fire. Imagine, in such circumstances, how could people escape from this shelter built in the middle of the streets.

Foreign citizens came to Delhi for treatment

Citizens of Nigeria, Mozambique, Bangladesh and Liberia are also said to be among the 21 killed. That means most of the dead citizens were from African countries. He had come to Delhi for the treatment of his family members and was staying in this illegal hotel in Malviya Nagar, but he also did not know that the hotel in which he was staying was standing illegally on the foundation of corruption and dishonesty. Who knows what blindfold was put on the eyes of the Municipal Corporation and its officials that they did not see anything during the construction of this hotel or they deliberately closed their eyes by taking ‘service charges’.

Now the script after this accident is being written exactly the same as it happens every time. Delhi government and leaders expressed grief over 21 deaths. A compensation of Rs 2 lakh each was announced for the deceased. Strictest action is being assured. After some time, a traditional and official word was also thrown into the air. High level investigation, for which a committee will be formed.

There will be a formality of raiding the remaining hotels of the city for a few days. To show agility and agility, two-four hotels will also be sealed. After this, people will gradually forget this accident like other accidents. Its files will gather dust and somewhere a new hotel of death will be built.

Why doesn’t the system wake up earlier?

The question is very old and it is more embarrassing that why the system does not wake up earlier. You might remember the recent Surya murder case in Ghaziabad. When after the murder of Surya, the administration came to know that the house of accused Asad was illegal. Also remember the accident that happened in Rajendra Nagar, Delhi, when the system woke up after 3 students drowned in the basement and the investigation found that the basement was built illegally and remember the Uphaar scandal of 1997, when after the accident, the administration came to know on how careless the theater was built. This happens every time.

According to police sources, initial investigation also revealed that the hotel had only one gate for entry and exit. Delhi Police has registered an FIR in the name of unknown person. A case has been registered under the sections of culpable homicide and BNS. Delhi Police is searching for absconding hotel owner Lokesh Bajaj. A look out circular has been issued against him but 21 people have been murdered in Delhi.

To understand this, you should also see this chain of irresponsibility, in which someone’s fault may be small or big but all of them are guilty of death. The first culprit is the owner of the illegal hotel, whose name is Lokesh Bajaj and he is in the custody of the police. It has been learned that there are three partners including Lokesh in this hotel. They also have many more hotels and guest houses in the same area.

The third culprit is the fire department

Another name for this chain is Local Municipal Corporation. Was sleeping deeply during the construction of this illegal hotel. The third culprit is the fire department, from which NOC was not taken to run this hotel. Nor did the fire department ever take the trouble to investigate such illegal hotels. The fourth culprit is the licensing department which was relaxed by giving the B&B license to the hotel owner Lokesh Bajaj and did not even investigate that the bed and breakfast system was to be run in the six rooms inside the house. An illegal hotel of 25 rooms is running there.

Ultimately the culprit is the government and the system, no matter which party it belongs to, under which all these departments come. On this issue, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu held an emergency review meeting with senior officials of the Delhi government and related departments. In the meeting, LG directed that a one-month special fire safety campaign will start in Delhi from tomorrow, under which all the hotels, guest houses, nursing homes, coaching centers and other sensitive buildings of Delhi will be inspected.

The Lieutenant Governor clearly said that during this period, strict action like sealing will be taken against the institutions violating the fire rules. The campaign will be monitored by the Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner. Also, the Lieutenant Governor has ordered a magisterial inquiry to investigate this incident and fix accountability.

open evidence of criminal negligence

The lens of concern in this incident clearly shows that calling the Malviya Nagar incident merely an unfortunate accident would be to avoid the real questions. This is clear evidence of criminal negligence. Tight space, closed passageways, no fire exits, no ventilation. All these together turn such buildings into walking time bombs.

The biggest question to the administration is how do such establishments continue to operate for years by violating security standards? Does inspection happen only in files? Is audit just a matter of convenience? Putting human life at stake for a few rupees of profit is a straight crime. The smoke of Malviya Nagar has not risen from a building, but from a system that gives free rein to those who break the rules until someone’s life is lost.

Report TV9 Bharatvarsh.