Three from Rajasthan killed in Delhi's Malviya Nagar fire
Jaipur, June 3
Three people from Rajasthan lost their lives in the devastating fire at Delhi's Flourish Stay Hotel in Malviya Nagar on Wednesday.
Among the victims were Javari Lal Agarwal (70), a retired UCO Bank manager from Ajmer, his wife Kamala Agarwal (68), and Ashok Pansari, a marble businessman from Kishangarh.
The trio had travelled to Delhi to visit a relative admitted to Max Hospital and were staying at the hotel when the fire broke out.
The tragedy has left families, friends, and neighbours in shock, especially because the couple had celebrated Kamala Agarwal's birthday just two days before the incident.
According to family friend and neighbour Rajendra Prasad, June 1 was Kamala Agarwal's birthday, which was celebrated with family members before the couple left for Delhi. "Javari Lal and Kamala ji were happy and looking forward to meeting their relatives in Delhi. None of us could have imagined that this would be their last journey," he said.
The couple travelled from Ajmer to Kishangarh on Tuesday evening and then proceeded to Delhi along with Ashok Pansari. The first news of the tragedy reached the family through the couple's daughter, Deepa Agarwal, who informed relatives and neighbours after learning about the fire.
According to Rajendra Prasad, Deepa initially informed him about her mother's death. A few hours later, the family received confirmation that Javari Lal's body had also been recovered from the hotel. Deepa, who lives in Jaipur, immediately rushed to Delhi.
The couple's son, Sachin Agarwal, a software engineer working with Google in the United States, has also left for India upon receiving the news.
For Rajendra Prasad, the loss is deeply personal. He recalled that he and Javari Lal retired together as managers from UCO Bank in January 2016 after working at the same branch for over a decade. Their friendship dated back to 1988. "We were more like family than neighbours," he said.
The Agarwal couple had been associated with the Lions Club since 2015 and were well known in social circles for their community involvement. Club members and local residents expressed grief over the sudden loss, remembering them as warm-hearted and active members of society.
The third victim, Ashok Pansari of Kishangarh, had travelled to Delhi to inquire about the health of his paternal uncle, Radheshyam Agarwal, who is undergoing treatment at Max Hospital.
According to family members, Ashok was accompanied by relatives and was staying at the hotel when the fire broke out. His family includes his wife, Saroj Devi, sons Pankaj Goyal and Kapil Goyal, their families, and a married daughter, Sangeeta, who resides in Jaipur.
As news of the tragedy spread across Ajmer and Kishangarh, grief engulfed both cities, with residents struggling to come to terms with the loss of three lives that had travelled to Delhi for a compassionate purpose but never returned home.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is heartbreaking. A retired bank manager and his wife went to Delhi to visit a sick relative, and ended up losing their lives in such a tragic accident. The fact that the son is flying back from the US, a Google employee no less, shows how life can change in an instant. My deepest condolences to all families involved. 🙏
I'm from Ajmer and this news has hit us hard. The Agarwal couple were well-known in Lions Club circles, always participating in community service. And Ashok ji was a respected marble businessman from Kishangarh. All three went to Delhi with noble intentions - to visit a sick uncle and aunt in hospital. It's just so unfair. Yet I have to ask - how did this fire spread so quickly? Was the hotel following fire safety norms? Someone must be held accountable.
As someone who works in hospitality in Delhi, I'm deeply saddened by this tragedy. My heart goes out to Deepa who had to break this news and then rush to Delhi, and to Sachin who's coming all the way from the US. While I can't speak about this specific hotel, I think Delhi needs much stricter fire safety audits for all guesthouses and hotels, especially in areas like Malviya Nagar where there are many budget accommodations.
What a tragic loss of life... especially for people who were just trying to be good family members, visiting a relative in hospital. The birthday celebration two days before adds such a poignant layer to this. But we also need to ask: in a city like Delhi, why are basic fire safety measures ignored? How many more lives will be lost before authorities wake up? My condolences to the families. Rest in peace, Javari Lal ji, Kamala ji, and Ashok ji. 🕯️
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