Families Grieve as Justice Delayed
One month after a devastating fire ripped through a bed and breakfast facility in Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, claiming 23 lives, the families of the victims remain frozen in grief, struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. The Aggarwal family from Gurugram lost eight members in the June 3 blaze, leaving relatives in shock and demanding accountability.
Ajay Gupta, a relative of the Aggarwals, told The Tribune that the family is still trying to cope. "We all shared a very close, happy and respectful relationship with Tarjani and Vivek who died in the fire with their two children and mother. Tarjani was my niece. I have seen her since the time she was born and then leave the world. Even today, everyone in the family is trying to cope with the tragedy. It will take a long time to come to terms with what has happened. We are all still in shock," he said.
Suo Motu Intervention Sought
Gupta urged the judiciary to take suo motu notice of the incident to prevent future tragedies. "In cases like these the judiciary should take a suo motu notice and ensure that their intervention would bring certain changes so that no one dies again from the same causes and in the same circumstances," he added.
Mahender, Tarjani's maternal cousin, echoed the sentiment. "The void they left can never be filled. Time may pass, but what we have lost cannot be replaced. We are all telling each other to accept reality and slowly return to normal life because otherwise the trauma will only grow," he said, highlighting the emotional toll on the extended family.
Fire Safety Lapses Exposed
The tragedy exposed critical failures in fire safety equipment, delayed accountability, and a system that many believe only moved after the disaster struck. The fire, which broke out at a B&B facility operating on a bed and breakfast licence, killed 23 people, including 13 foreign nationals and 10 Indians. Panic unfolded within minutes as occupants scrambled for escape, while others remained trapped behind smoke-filled corridors and sealed exits.
Local residents joined rescue efforts even before emergency teams brought the blaze under control. Among the victims was the Aggarwal family: chartered accountant Vivek Aggarwal, his wife Tarjani, daughters Angel and Pearl, and his mother Premlata. They had moved into the hotel to stay close to Max Hospital in Saket, where Vivek's father was admitted to the ICU. He later died during treatment. What began as a temporary arrangement to care for an ailing parent ended with three generations wiped out in a single night.
Government Response and Blame
Malviya Nagar MLA Satish Upadhyaya of the BJP expressed condolences and said the government has taken action against those responsible. "What happened is deeply tragic and should never have happened. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. As a government, we have taken action against those responsible for the lapses that led to the incident," he said. He added that decisions taken during the previous AAP tenure were among the factors that contributed to the tragedy, and that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has honoured residents who aided rescue efforts. "Going forward, checks will be put in place," he assured.
Investigations and Systemic Failures
Investigators have widened the probe beyond the cause of the fire to examine building compliance with safety regulations. Allegations include sealed glass windows, sensor-operated gates that failed during the emergency, overcrowding, and multiple fire safety violations that may have prevented occupants from escaping in time. Official documents showed the premises was registered under Delhi's B&B scheme for only six rooms but operated beyond that capacity. The owner, Lokesh Bajaj, reportedly stated, "Mujhe bola tha ki Delhi me sab chalta hai!" (I was told everything works in Delhi), revealing a systematic failure.
Officials have pointed to the role of multiple agencies responsible for building approvals, occupancy certification, licensing, and fire safety, including Delhi Fire Services, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and Delhi Police. Questions remain over how such premises continue to operate despite alleged deviations from approved norms.
