A 29-year-old Iraqi national, Ali Amer Mosa, lost his life in a devastating hotel fire in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar. Relatives reported that Mosa was unable to escape via the stairs due to the intense smoke that engulfed the building during the early hours of the incident. He was part of a family visiting India for a relative’s medical treatment.
Family’s Account of Escape
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Ali Amer Mosa was one of three family members staying at the bed and breakfast establishment where the massive fire broke out, resulting in the deaths of 21 individuals and leaving dozens injured. Twelve of the deceased were foreign nationals whose families were receiving medical care at nearby hospitals.
Habib Abid, Mosa’s brother-in-law, aged in his 50s, recounted the harrowing moments of the fire. He stated that the family had been residing in the building for approximately a week while his son, Haider, who is about 18 or 19 years old, underwent treatment for a brain tumour in Saket.
Abid explained that the blaze spread with alarming speed through the upper floors, rapidly filling the corridors with dense smoke. This thick smoke severely reduced visibility, forcing occupants to seek escape routes through windows.
“I was staying on the fifth floor. I survived because I climbed out of the building through the window,” Abid said, describing his own narrow escape. He further elaborated that he was asleep when the fire erupted and had little time to comprehend the unfolding disaster. “All I could see was thick black smoke.”
He tragically added, “Ali died because he took the stairs. He couldn’t escape.” Abid was in the process of completing the necessary formalities at the AIIMS mortuary to receive Ali’s body.
Investigation Underway into Fire Incident
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the narrow lane leading to the hotel remained cordoned off. Police and forensic teams were actively engaged in inspecting the severely damaged structure. Local residents gathered nearby, their conversations subdued, as the lingering smell of smoke permeated parts of the area. The visuals from the morning of the fire have left a significant psychological impact on many in the neighbourhood.
Authorities have sealed the area to facilitate the ongoing investigation and safety assessment. The probe is focusing on examining the fire safety compliance and the adequacy of evacuation arrangements within the building.
Officials have confirmed the arrest of the hotel owner and are continuing to question individuals associated with the establishment’s operations. The investigation aims to meticulously reconstruct the sequence of events that culminated in the fatal fire.
The Chenab Times News Desk