New Delhi: The devastating fire at Flourish Stay Bed & Breakfast in Delhi’s Hauz Rani area, which claimed multiple lives, has exposed serious gaps in the regulation and monitoring of bed-and-breakfast (B&B) establishments in the national capital.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the property, registered under Delhi’s B&B scheme, was licensed to operate only six rooms but was allegedly running around 25 rooms across multiple floors. Authorities are now examining how such large-scale violations went undetected despite existing regulations.
Officials found several safety concerns at the property, including the absence of a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC), a single entry-exit point, sealed windows, limited ventilation and a locked terrace that could have served as an emergency escape route. Investigators believe these factors significantly hampered evacuation efforts and contributed to the high death toll.
The tragedy has also put Delhi’s B&B policy under scrutiny. Experts and officials have pointed to weak post-registration monitoring, with inspections reportedly conducted mainly during the approval stage. Compliance checks are often complaint-driven, raising concerns that similar violations may exist at other establishments operating under the scheme.
According to official estimates, Delhi has hundreds of registered B&B properties with thousands of rooms operating under the framework. The incident has triggered demands for stricter enforcement, regular audits and stronger accountability mechanisms.
In response, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has ordered a citywide inspection drive and a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Authorities have said hotels, guest houses, nursing homes, coaching centres and other commercial establishments will be checked for fire safety and licensing violations.
The investigation into the cause of the fire and the alleged regulatory lapses is ongoing.
