On June 3, 2026, a devastating fire swept through the Flourish Inn Stay hotel in New Delhi, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 individuals. Police reported that the incident occurred on Wednesday morning and the fire initiated in the hotel’s ground floor restaurant.
The blaze began at approximately 8:50 a.m. local time and rapidly moved to the upper floors of the five-story building. Many guests were asleep, and videos captured scenes of people attempting to escape by jumping from windows.
Eyewitness Vasim Raja, among the first on the scene, recounted seeing two people jump from the windows and stated that locals managed to rescue seven individuals from the basement before official rescue teams arrived.
“I saw at least two people jumping out from the windows,”Vasim Raja told CBS News.
During the chaos, firefighters and rescue workers undertook intense efforts to save lives and recover victims. Authorities confirmed 47 people were inside when the fire broke out, with 21 fatalities reported, including 17 foreign nationals hailing from Africa and Central Asia.
The hotel was frequented by visitors to the nearby Max Hospital Saket. The hospital disclosed that the bodies of 18 deceased were brought in, and 15 individuals were treated in its intensive care units for various injuries.
India has gained popularity as a medical tourism destination due to its quality and cost-effective healthcare services attracting patients internationally. The Delhi Police have filed charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against unknown persons concerning the fire, and an investigation is being conducted.
Fire department preliminary investigations showed the hotel lacked a valid fire safety certificate. While the exact cause of the blaze remains unknown, initial reports indicated a possible electrical short circuit. An inquiry into the incident has been demanded by officials.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged financial assistance of 200,000 Indian rupees to families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for those injured. Delhi’s Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic event and extended condolences to the victims’ families.