No ventilation, locked basement door, 28 rooms instead of 6: What Delhi fire FIR states

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jun 5, 2026 11:57 AM IST

A senior forensic department officer said an initial examination of Flourish Stays B&B revealed there were around three or four fire extinguishers, but all were intact. (PTI)

There was no ventilation, the basement main door was locked, and there were 28 rooms instead of the permitted six at Flourish Stays B&B in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, where 21 people died in a fire Wednesday morning, the First Information Report (FIR) registered on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder states.

The South District police registered the FIR at Malviya Nagar police station based on a complaint by a police officer.

According to the police, the complainant first mentioned details of a police control room (PCR) call about a fire, in which the caller said some people were trapped inside the premises. “After receiving the call, the local station house officer, other police personnel, and senior officers of the South District reached the spot. Some police personnel immediately started the rescue operation. They also informed the fire department, and personnel from both departments rescued the guests trapped inside the hotel,” a senior officer at Delhi Police headquarters said, quoting from the FIR.

The FIR states that after the incident, the police inspected the premises and found no proper fire safety arrangements. “There was no space for ventilation in the hotel premises, and the entrance door of the basement was also found locked. Firemen managed to enter after cutting the door,” it notes.

The police also stated in the FIR that the establishment had 28 rooms. This is more than the permitted number of six, sources said, adding that at least 18-19 rooms were reportedly occupied at the time of the incident.

A senior officer from the forensic department said that an initial examination of the hotel premises on Thursday revealed around three or four fire extinguishers in the hotel, but all of them were intact. “After examination, it has been revealed that all the documents of the deceased and the victims are intact, and most of the victims, prima facie, died due to suffocation. One of them had burn injuries,” the officer said.

The B&B is located in a narrow lane in Hauz Rani, diagonally across from Max Hospital in Saket.

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Sakshi Chand is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. With over a decade of experience in investigative journalism, she is a leading voice on crime, the prison system, and institutional governance in the National Capital.

Professional Background

Specialization: Her reporting focus includes high-stakes crime, national security, prison reforms, and traffic governance.

Key Coverage: She has been on the frontlines of major events such as the 2G spectrum case, the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, and communal clashes across Uttar Pradesh (Kasganj, Aligarh).

Earlier Career: Before joining The Indian Express, she was a reporter for The Times of India.

Personal Interests: Outside of her career in journalism, Sakshi is a National-level basketball player and coach, bringing a unique sporting discipline to her professional life.

Major Recent Coverage (Late 2025)

Her reporting in the latter half of 2025 has been dominated by a major terror investigation and administrative accountability:

1. The Red Fort Blast Investigation

Throughout November and December 2025, Sakshi led the coverage of a car explosion near Delhi's Red Fort:

Forensic Breakthroughs: She reported on the use of TATP and ammonium nitrate in the IED and identified the shops where raw materials were sourced (Nov 14-16, 2025).

The "i20 Route": She meticulously tracked the journey of the vehicle used in the blast, tracing it to a Pulwama-based resident who entered Delhi via the Badarpur toll plaza (Nov 12, 2025).

Victim Support: She recently reported on the Delhi Police providing a list of damaged vehicle owners to the Finance Ministry to expedite insurance claims for those caught in the blast (Dec 4, 2025).

2. Crime & Police Accountability

"Crackdown on Extortion Gangs": In December 2025, she reported on a syndicate that was blackmailing traffic cops. Following five arrests, the Special CP directed officers to report all such attempts (Dec 12, 2025).

"Corruption in the Ranks": She covered the arrest of five Delhi Police personnel by the Vigilance branch following a wave of public complaints (May 19, 2025).

Cold Cases & International Murders: She has extensively tracked the case of a man who allegedly killed his wife in London and fled to India, reporting on his "Proclaimed Offender" status and the denial of his anticipatory bail (May 2025).

3. Governance & Public Policy

"13,000 Homes for 90,000 Cops": A data-driven feature on why the majority of Delhi Police personnel are forced to live on rent despite the city's housing projects (May 4, 2025).

Traffic Decongestion: Using her interest in urban logistics, she detailed how the Traffic Police eased congestion on Vikas Marg by switching off signals and creating U-turns (April 2, 2025).

Signature Style

Sakshi Chand is known for a data-driven and investigative approach. She frequently uses forensic reports, CCTV analysis, and administrative data to go beyond the "official version" of a crime story. Her work in prison reporting is particularly noted for highlighting the legal and humanitarian conditions of foreign detention centers and local jails. ... Read More

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security.

Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat.

During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

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