A Delhi court has sent a cook employed at the hotel where a devastating fire claimed 21 lives to two days of police custody as investigators probe the circumstances that led to one of the deadliest fire tragedies in the national capital in recent years. Authorities allege that the cook's actions may have contributed to the outbreak and spread of the blaze.
The fire broke out earlier this week at a guest house-cum-hotel in the Hauz Rani area of South Delhi's Malviya Nagar, killing 21 people, including several foreign nationals, and injuring dozens of others. The incident triggered a massive rescue operation involving firefighters, police personnel, and local residents.
According to investigators, the cook, identified as Keshav Negi, was questioned for several hours before being arrested. During interrogation, he reportedly told police that an electric stove had exploded in the kitchen area, after which he switched off the power supply in an attempt to control the situation. Investigators are examining whether those actions may have worsened the emergency and hampered evacuation efforts.
Police have stated that preliminary findings point to possible negligence and are investigating the sequence of events that led to the fire. Several other individuals have also been questioned as authorities examine safety procedures, emergency preparedness, and compliance with fire regulations at the establishment.
The tragedy has also placed the spotlight on alleged fire safety lapses. Reports indicate that authorities are examining whether the building complied with mandatory safety norms and whether all required permissions and clearances were in place. Earlier, the hotel owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, was arrested and remanded to police custody as part of the investigation.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Delhi administration has announced stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations across the city. A month-long inspection drive has been launched to check hotels, restaurants, nursing homes, coaching centres, and other commercial establishments for violations of safety norms.
As investigations continue, police are expected to use the cook's custodial interrogation to gather more information about the origin of the fire and determine responsibility for the tragedy that claimed 21 lives.
