NEW DELHI: In the wake of the Malviya Nagar fire that resulted in the loss of 21 lives, including 11 foreign nationals, Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood announced on Wednesday that buildings lacking necessary fire safety measures and permits will be sealed.
“We have decided to seal all structures that do not possess the required NOCs,” Sood stated after an emergency meeting led by Delhi LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu to assess the city’s fire safety protocols.
The government will initiate a fire safety awareness campaign targeting residential buildings that do not require NOCs from the Delhi Fire Services, the minister noted.
Following the Malviya Nagar tragedy, the Delhi government has mandated a city-wide enforcement drive.
Sood’s office emphasized a robust crackdown on illegal hotels.
Earlier, Sood visited the bed and breakfast location in Malviya Nagar where the incident occurred, highlighting numerous irregularities.
Initial investigations have revealed “significant violations” of safety and licensing regulations, which include “unauthorized commercial expansions, illegal room additions, obstruction of evacuation routes, and misuse of permissions granted” under the Bed and Breakfast policy.
The property, originally permitted for a limited number of rooms, was reportedly functioning as a high-capacity commercial lodging facility, violating established regulations.
The minister clarified that permission was only granted for a six-room B&B establishment, yet the location was allegedly operating well beyond its authorized capacity.
“It has come to light that this establishment was operating under an incomplete and partial license obtained in 2024, despite significant safety lapses, including a lack of mandatory fire clearances and proper electricity load compliance,” the statement disclosed.
Sood has instructed the South Delhi District Magistrate, Deputy Commissioners (MCD), Delhi Fire Services, and the Power Department to conduct a thorough physical inspection of all registered and suspected B&B establishments in the vicinity.
He directed that any establishment violating fire safety regulations, building codes, or licensing criteria must face immediate repercussions, including sealing of premises, utility disconnections, and the initiation of criminal proceedings against accountable individuals.
Sood stressed that residential hospitality licenses cannot serve as a facade for unsafe and unauthorized business activities in densely populated residential areas.
