Delhi hotel promised comfort near a hospital. Then 21 people died in blaze

Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS

On social media and booking platforms, Flourish Stays sold itself as the ideal address for medical travellers – an affordable and comfortable stay just a short walk from Max Hospital in Saket. On Wednesday, that promise ended in tragedy when a fire ripped through the Malviya Nagar property, killing 21 people and injuring dozens more.

Its Instagram page advertised “Affordable Stays, Cozy, Comfort and Proximity to Max Saket Hospital”. Videos showcased views of the hospital from the building, while its website promoted easy access to the metro station, Select Citywalk and one of Delhi’s leading healthcare facilities.

For many guests, particularly foreign nationals accompanying relatives for treatment, the location was the biggest draw.

What they did not know was that the building allegedly lacked a fire No Objection Certificate and, according to officials, was a five-floor structure with a single entry-exit point, permanently sealed windows and a sensor-operated main door, conditions that would prove devastating when the blaze broke out.

A SELLING POINT THAT TURNED INTO AN IRONY

The hotel’s biggest attraction was its location.

Locals said the area around Max Hospital has, over the years, become a hub for patients and their attendants looking for budget accommodation close to medical facilities. Many guests staying at Flourish Stays were either undergoing treatment themselves or had relatives admitted to the nearby hospital.

One of the hotel’s promotional reels proudly displayed the hospital from a window.

That same proximity took on a haunting meaning during the fire.

The windows from which guests could see Max Hospital became the windows from which desperate people jumped in a bid to survive. Some leapt from the second and third floors as flames and smoke engulfed the building.

Max Hospital later said several victims were brought in with fractures sustained during those jumps.

A BUILDING WITH NOWHERE TO RUN

Investigators and officials painted a grim picture of the structure after the blaze.

The five-floor narrow building had only one entry and exit point. Its windows were permanently sealed and the main entrance was operated through sensors, officials said.

When the fire broke out around 8.30 am, smoke rapidly spread through the building.

Rescuers and locals struggled to reach those trapped inside. Access was difficult not only because of the fire but also because of the narrow lanes surrounding the property.

The challenge became even greater for guests staying in rooms allegedly operating illegally.

According to officials, the establishment had permission to run six rooms but was allegedly accommodating guests in around 25 rooms.

Some of the victims were staying in basement accommodation. Many never got a chance to escape.

Officials said several died from suffocation as smoke filled the building, while others suffered severe burn injuries.

A NEIGHBOURHOOD BUILT AROUND MEDICAL TOURISM

The tragedy has drawn attention to a locality that has quietly become a major accommodation hub for medical travellers.

The Press Enclave Road and Hauz Rani area is packed with hotels, guest houses and inns catering largely to patients visiting Max Hospital. Locals estimate that more than 35 such establishments operate in the neighbourhood.

Many function from narrow multi-storey buildings squeezed between restaurants and commercial establishments. Several offer more than 30 rooms, while some even provide accommodation in basements and rooftop spaces.

Foreign patient Musa Okoro, who is undergoing treatment at Max Hospital, said he had almost stayed at Flourish Stays.

“Had a room been available there, I would have stayed in that building,” he said.

Another patient, Yusoof from Bangladesh, said the area remained popular because of its affordability and convenience.

“Everything we need is available within a walking distance. For people undergoing treatment, staying near the hospital is very important,” he said.

After witnessing the aftermath of the fire, however, he questioned whether enough attention had been paid to safety.

“There are many hotels very close to each other and the lanes are quite narrow. I hope the authorities check whether proper safety measures are in place.”

A FAMILIAR PATTERN

Calls to the phone number listed on Flourish Stays’ Instagram page went unanswered after the tragedy.

The hotel was reportedly managed by an absentee operator, while questions continue to mount over how a property licensed for six rooms allegedly expanded operations far beyond that limit.

For families who chose the hotel because it promised comfort, affordability and easy access to healthcare, the gap between what was advertised and what existed behind the facade proved devastating.

The hospital that made the property attractive was only a stone’s throw away.

Yet when the fire broke out, survivors and rescuers found themselves battling a building where escape routes were scarce, access was limited and precious minutes disappeared in smoke.

The promise that brought guests to Flourish Stays ultimately became the tragedy’s most painful irony.

– Ends

With inputs from PTI

SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA