Delhi Fire Services sources said the blaze may have started near the ground-floor staircase, while investigators found sealed windows and no emergency exit.
Firefighters, police officials and forensic teams at the site of the Malviya Nagar hotel fire in New Delhi. Delhi Fire Service has raised concerns over the building's sealed design and lack of adequate escape routes. | IANS
The toll in the Malviya Nagar fire rose to 23 after one more injured person, identified by authorities as a foreign national, died during treatment, officials said on Thursday, according to ANI.
The latest death has deepened scrutiny of the fire tragedy, with preliminary findings by Delhi Fire Services suggesting that the blaze may have started near the staircase on the ground floor and spread quickly through a building where sealed windows allegedly left occupants with little room to escape.
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Several injured people are still undergoing treatment at different hospitals. Emergency services had moved the victims to nearby medical facilities after the incident, where many have been under intensive care.
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According to Delhi Fire Services sources cited by ANI, some material kept near the staircase on the ground floor is suspected to be the point from where the fire began. Officials said the exact nature of the material and the precise cause of the blaze will be known only after a detailed forensic investigation.
Sources said the fire appeared to have spread rapidly through the building after starting near the staircase.
During the investigation, authorities allegedly found multiple safety lapses and serious gaps in the building’s fire safety infrastructure.
Officials probing the case have flagged the building’s sealed façade as a major concern, saying the closed windows and glass panels may have trapped smoke inside instead of letting it disperse. The basement, too, was not immediately accessible during the rescue operation as its entrance was locked from inside. Rescue personnel had to force their way in, a process that took nearly 10 minutes, before bringing out six to seven people.
The investigation has further found that the building did not have adequate ventilation arrangements or an emergency exit gate, sources said. These deficiencies allegedly allowed smoke to spread rapidly across the structure, trapping occupants inside and making evacuation more difficult.
Authorities continue to monitor the condition of those still under treatment as the probe into the cause of the fire and the alleged safety violations moves ahead.
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