Affordable hotels in Delhi like Mahipalpur and Paharganj have glass-sealed windows and poor fire safety compliance (AI image used for representational purpose only)
NEW DELHI: Sealed windows leading to a lack of ventilation, narrow staircases next to lifts and inadequate fire safety measures — violations like these are rampant across affordable hospitality hubs like Mahipalpur and Paharganj, making them vulnerable to catastrophes, similar to the one in Hauz Rani that claimed 21 lives.
The nearest fire station at Vasant Kunj is about 5.6 km away. When TOI visited one such lane, a small goods tempo took nearly 15 minutes to manoeuvre and turn around. Because of their proximity to the airport, the potential consequences of a fire could be even more severe, in southwest Delhi’s Mahipalpur, where hundreds of budget hotels cater largely to tourists.
A local said, “If a small vehicle like this takes so long, imagine the difficulty a fire tender will face while navigating its way and reaching the spot of a blaze in time.” A typical four-storey building houses at least nine rooms on each floor. In multiple hotels, windows are completely sealed and can’t be opened, leaving virtually no scope for ventilation or emergency escape. Many hotels feature thick glass facades designed to block outside noise, particularly the sound of aircraft from the nearby airport. However, in the event of a fire, such structures could trap occupants inside smoke-filled rooms and make rescue efforts difficult. Most of these establishments have minimal visible firefighting infrastructure. Several floors have only a single fire extinguisher and a hydrant despite accommodating dozens of guests. Many rooms are large enough to host entire families, increasing the number of people who could be trapped during an emergency. Accessibility poses another major concern. heavy congestion on the Dhaula Kuan-Gurgaon stretch and a maze of narrow internal lanes are likely to delay emergency response, fire officials feared While the distance is not significant. Residents pointed to low-hanging overhead wires and tightly packed lanes, making it difficult for large fire tenders to enter.