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A catastrophic fire in the Malviya Nagar area of Delhi on Wednesday morning has left numerous families shattered. The incident resulted in the deaths of 21 individuals, including 12 foreigners and 9 Indians. Among the most heart-wrenching stories is that of the 'Agarwal family' from Gurugram, who lost eight members from two generations in this tragic event. They had traveled to Delhi to care for their elderly patriarch, who was hospitalized.

The Agarwal family had checked into a hotel near Max Hospital to be close to their ailing elder. Tragically, the fire claimed the lives of 21 people, prompting an investigation into the cause of the blaze.

Victims of the Fire

The deceased included 48-year-old Vivek Agarwal, his wife Tarjani Agarwal, and their daughters—Jivisha (also known as Angel) and Varya (also known as Pearl). Other family members who perished were Jhaweri, Ashok Agarwal, Kamla, and Prem Lata Agarwal. This family, residing in Sector 46 of Gurugram, had checked into 'Flourish Stay B&B' to be near Max Hospital, where Vivek's father, Radheshyam Agarwal, was being treated for a lung ailment.

Circumstances of the Fire

Radheshyam, over 80 years old, had been unwell for some time and was receiving treatment at the hospital. The family arranged to stay nearby for his care. Unfortunately, this decision turned fatal when a fire broke out around 8:30 AM in the hotel. Officials reported that the fire rapidly spread through the narrow five-story building, which had only one entrance, with windows permanently sealed and the main door operated by a sensor.

Additional Victims

Three more relatives from Tarjani's side had also come to visit Radheshyam and were staying with the family. They too fell victim to the flames, bringing the total number of fatalities in this family to eight.

Family's Grief

Ajay Gupta, Tarjani's uncle, shared with a media channel that relatives had come to support Radheshyam during this medical emergency, but their visit turned into an unimaginable tragedy. When family members gathered at Max Hospital after the incident, the atmosphere was filled with profound sorrow and disbelief as they struggled to accept the loss of nearly an entire branch of their family in a single night.

Radheshyam's Unawareness

Perhaps the most tragic aspect of this incident is that Radheshyam, still undergoing treatment in the hospital, remains unaware that he has lost his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters, along with three other relatives who came to see him.

Community Remembers Vivek

In the meantime, neighbors in Gurugram remember Vivek Agarwal as a gentle and family-oriented person who had gone to Delhi solely to be with his father during his treatment.

Initial Investigation Reveals Safety Lapses

Preliminary investigations into the deadly fire have revealed significant safety violations, including an unlicensed restaurant operating on the ground floor, a locked grill in the basement, inadequate escape routes, and small windows that likely hindered evacuation efforts.

Investigators are also looking into whether the hotel was operating beyond its approved capacity and if there were sufficient safety measures for entry and exit in the basement. The role of unauthorized business activities within the building is also under scrutiny to determine if they increased the fire risk.

Further Assessments

Authorities are evaluating whether the hotel's location in a crowded area and the presence of hanging electrical wires obstructed firefighting efforts and delayed rescue operations. These findings have raised questions about compliance with fire safety regulations and building codes at this establishment.

Investigators have also discovered that the hotel was allegedly operating with far more guests than permitted. While it was authorized to run only six rooms under the 'bed-and-breakfast' policy, officials found 25 rooms in operation at the time of the fire.