21 Killed in Hauz Rani B&B Fire Including 12 Foreign Nationals Visiting for Medical Care

A devastating fire at the Flourish Stays B&B in the Hauz Rani area of South Delhi on Wednesday claimed the lives of 21 people, including 12 foreign nationals who had travelled to the city for medical treatment.

Grieving family members gathered outside the AIIMS Trauma Centre mortuary as they waited to claim the bodies of their loved ones. Many of the victims were staying at the guest house while undergoing medical procedures or accompanying relatives at nearby healthcare facilities, including Max Hospital in Saket.

Among those waiting at the mortuary was 40-year-old Habib Abid from Iraq. Abid had recently arrived in Delhi with his 18-year-old son, Haider, who was scheduled for brain tumour surgery at Max Hospital. Abid's 29-year-old brother-in-law, Ali Amer Mosa, who had accompanied them on the trip to assist the family, died in the fire.

Abid, who was staying on the fifth floor of the building, recalled waking up to screams on Wednesday morning. He managed to escape after rescuers broke a window and placed a ladder to his room. However, Mosa attempted to flee through the smoke-filled stairwell and was overcome by the fumes.

The tragedy also claimed the life of 61-year-old Janjay Roland from Liberia, who had arrived in Delhi last week to get her husband admitted for medical treatment. Her niece, Maria, a student living in India, was among those waiting at the mortuary to identify her body.

According to officials, 12 of the 21 victims were foreign nationals from nations including Bangladesh, Liberia, Nigeria, and Mozambique.