NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will begin sealing unauthorized commercial buildings in the South Zone starting Thursday, following a tragic fire that claimed the lives of 21 individuals, including 11 foreigners, at the Flourish Stay bed-and-breakfast hotel in Malviya Nagar on Wednesday.
According to officials, the devastating fire occurred in a Lal Dora village area, involving a building first constructed in the 1980s and then rebuilt in 2012-13.
The hotel primarily served patients visiting a nearby hospital.
Officials indicated that of the 35 injured, 19 remain in critical condition across various hospitals in Delhi. They noted that the move to seal establishments may alarm foreign travelers, prompting the corporation to commence the operation on Thursday.
“Starting tomorrow, the MCD will begin sealing unauthorized commercial establishments in the South Zone,” stated a senior MCD official.
The B&B had violated multiple regulations.
“While permission was granted for a six-room operation, 25 rooms were in use. The property was rebuilt around 2012-13 and lacked a sanctioned building plan or approved layout,” said the official, who requested anonymity. The facility is situated in Hauz Rani village on a commercial road.
“The building is located in a Lal Dora area, where authorized building plans are typically unavailable. It was being used for commercial purposes in a residential neighborhood,” the official added.
He mentioned that a survey of the area is underway, and actions will be taken against other commercial properties violating regulations.
“All commercial properties found in violation will be sealed within the next 48 hours,” a senior MCD official confirmed.
Lal Dora is a historical classification that denotes habitation zones in villages. Properties in these areas were historically exempt from MCD building rules, allowing constructions without formal approvals.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by various agencies.
