A Nigerian national injured in the devastating fire that engulfed the Flourish Stays bed-and-breakfast facility in Malviya Nagar’s Hauz Rani area of South Delhi, India, has died while receiving treatment, raising the death toll from the tragedy to 22.
Indian authorities confirmed on Sunday that the middle-aged Nigerian, who had been staying at the hotel for several days before the incident, suffered severe burns and was initially rushed to a nearby hospital before being transferred to Safdarjung Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.
Police said the Nigerian Embassy had been notified of the development. His death brings the number of foreign nationals killed in the inferno to 13.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police have intensified efforts to track down the hotel’s accountant, Jay Mishra, and manager, identified simply as Rakesh, following the arrest of the hotel’s owner and its cook, Keshav Negi.
Investigators revealed that three employees were present when the fire broke out, including Negi, the manager and another worker who was asleep on an upper floor.
According to police sources, manager Rakesh was seated at the reception when the fire erupted in the kitchen on the ground floor. Negi, who was inside the kitchen, reportedly noticed sparks coming from an air fryer, triggering what investigators described as a heat blast.
Rather than raising an alarm or contacting emergency services, Negi allegedly fled the building without alerting guests or staff.
Chef Keshav could have helped with evacuation or informed the fire brigade, but he left the premises immediately after the incident, a police officer involved in the investigation said.
Authorities said his arrest was based on evidence gathered during the probe and what they described as his alleged negligence in responding to the emergency.
On Sunday, Negi was taken back to the hotel as investigators reconstructed the sequence of events leading to the deadly blaze. Police questioned him about the source of the fire and his actions immediately after the incident.
The case has also drawn the attention of political leaders. Uttarakhand State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami disclosed that he had spoken with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta regarding Negi’s arrest after members of his family claimed he had been wrongly implicated.
Today, I spoke with the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs. Rekha Gupta, regarding the arrest of Mr. Keshav Negi of Uttarakhand in connection with the Malviya Nagar fire incident,” Dhami wrote on social media platform X.
According to Dhami, the Delhi Chief Minister assured him that no innocent person would be punished and that the investigation would proceed based strictly on facts and evidence.
We have full confidence that the Delhi Government and the concerned agencies will bring the truth to light through a fair and impartial investigation,” he stated.
Dhami also revealed that he had spoken with Negi’s daughter, Kanishka Negi, assuring the family of support.
Our government stands shoulder to shoulder with all migrant Uttarakhandi brothers and sisters living across the country, he added.
Police said Negi, who resides in East Delhi’s Dilshad Garden with his wife and two children, had worked at the hotel for the past two years.
Investigations into the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the deaths are ongoing.
