What began as a family’s effort to stay close to a critically ill Grandfather ended in one of Delhi’s most heartbreaking tragedies. Within days, eight members of the Aggarwal family lost their lives in a devastating fire at a bed-and-breakfast in south Delhi, while the family’s elderly Grandfather died in hospital days later, unaware that his loved ones were gone.
The tragedy traces its roots to May 31, when doctors at Max Hospital in Saket informed chartered accountant Vivek Aggarwal that his 77-year-old father, Radhe Shyam Aggarwal, was in critical condition. Suffering from advanced Interstitial Lung Disease, Radhe Shyam’s organs were failing and his oxygen levels were dangerously low. Determined to bring the family together during what seemed like his final days, Vivek called his elder daughter, Jivisha, who had recently begun studying computer science engineering at PES University in Bengaluru. Jivisha arrived in Delhi on June 2.
The following day, tragedy struck. A massive fire engulfed Flourish Stays, a bed-and-breakfast located opposite Max Hospital, where the family had temporarily shifted to remain close to Radhe Shyam. Vivek Aggarwal, his wife Tarjani, daughters Jivisha and Varya, his mother Prem Lata, and three relatives from Rajasthan were trapped inside the building. Despite desperate attempts to rescue them, all eight perished in the blaze.
Six days later, Radhe Shyam died in the intensive care unit, never learning that his entire family had been wiped out. The Aggarwal family’s story reflected the aspirations of many middle-class Indian households. Radhe Shyam and his wife moved from Ajmer to Delhi in 1978, where he built a successful career in the automobile spare-parts business before later entering real estate and interior decoration.
His son Vivek excelled academically and professionally. A chartered accountant by the age of 21, he worked internationally before holding senior positions at several major companies, including Airtel, Genpact, HCL, Info Edge and later Insurance Dekho, where he served as Chief Financial Officer. Just weeks before his death, he had travelled to Hong Kong to receive an industry award.
Family members remember Vivek and his wife Tarjani as a devoted couple. Tarjani had recently launched her own event management company, while the couple took immense pride in raising their two daughters. Jivisha had secured admission to a prestigious engineering programme, while 16-year-old Varya was studying at DPS Gurugram and had recently returned from a student exchange programme in Germany.
The family’s success was perhaps best symbolised by their newly built dream home in Gurugram’s Sector-46. Constructed over six years at a cost of nearly ₹5 crore, the house represented decades of hard work and sacrifice. Despite serious health issues, Radhe Shyam personally supervised much of the construction, ensuring every detail matched the family’s vision. The Aggarwals finally moved into the home in December 2025 and celebrated with a grand housewarming ceremony.
When Radhe Shyam’s health deteriorated in May 2026, the family prioritised his care above everything else. Frequent trips between Gurugram and the hospital prompted them to book three rooms at Flourish Stays, allowing them to remain close to him during treatment.
Relatives from Rajasthan also travelled to Delhi to support the family through the difficult period. On the morning of June 3, emergency calls from trapped family members alerted relatives to the unfolding disaster. Family members rushed to the scene, hoping against hope that their loved ones could be saved. However, the fire spread rapidly through the property, leaving little chance of escape.
Relatives later recalled the chaos and desperation at the scene as firefighters battled the blaze and searched for survivors. By the time rescue operations concluded, all eight members of the Aggarwal family had died. For days afterward, Radhe Shyam continued asking about his son and other family members from his hospital bed. Relatives chose not to reveal the devastating truth while he remained in critical condition. He passed away on June 9 without ever learning what had happened.
As investigations into the fire continue, family members say the loss cannot be measured merely by statistics. It was the destruction of three generations’ hopes, memories, and aspirations an entire family wiped out while trying to stand by one another during a time of crisis.
