NEW DELHI: What was a family gathering to spend time with a gravely ill elder — 75year-old Radheshyam, undergoing treatment for lung infection at Max Hospital, Saket — turned into a catastrophe for the Aggarwals. Eight of the family, all staying in the ill-fated hotel, died in the fire.Sitting in the waiting area of the hospital on Wednesday, relatives recalled how doctors had recently informed the family that Radheshyam did not have much time left. “We were here just a few days ago when doctors broke the news. The family had booked rooms nearby so they could spend as much time as possible with him,” said 59-year-old Lata Aggarwal, a relative. The family has not yet informed the ailing senior citizen about the tragedy. Family members had travelled from Rajasthan, Bengaluru and Gurgaon to be with the patriarch.3 of family put off departure to spend more time togetherRadheshyam’s wife, Premlata (70), son Vivek (47), daughter-in-law Tarjani (42), and granddaughter Varya, fondly called Pearl (16), had travelled from their home in Gurgaon. His elder granddaughter, Jivisha, known to the family as Angel (20), had flown in from Bengaluru just hours before the incident. All of them were among the victims of the fire.Vivek, a chartered accountant, worked as the CFO of a private insurtech company. Tarjani, a beauty pageant title-holder, was employed with an event management firm. Angel was pursuing a BTech degree, while Pearl had recently scored 97% in her Class X examinations.Also staying at the hotel were Premlata’s sister Kamla (52), her brother Ashok (56), and brother-in-law Jhaveri, who had travelled from Kishangarh in Rajasthan’s Ajmer. They had planned to return home earlier but the family persuaded them to extend their stay. Kamla and Ashok died in the fire while Jhaveri remains missing.According to relatives, Vivek managed to make a frantic call to his cousin after the fire broke out. “His brother contacted another cousin who lives in Kotla Mubarakpur, and he rushed to the spot with his wife,” Lata said.Among those who rushed to the site was Swati, Vivek’s sister-in-law. “We pulled him out and tried administering CPR, but by then he had inhaled too much smoke,” Swati told TOI . The family also alleged delays in the emergency response. “Vivek called us around 8.45am. The fire tenders reached almost when we did, nearly 45 minutes later,” she claimed, adding that the narrow lane made access difficult for fire vehicles. When asked for a response, a senior fire official denied the allegation.Relatives said Tarjani was found charred to death in her room. “Her body was beyond recognition. We identified her through her jewellery,” Lata said. Holding up her phone, she showed a message she had sent Tarjani that morning, informing her that breakfast would be delivered to the family — a message that would never be read.The Aggarwals had once lived as a joint family in Kotla Mubarakpur before moving to Gurgaon a few years ago. Their bond, relatives said, remained as close as ever. Fighting back tears, Swati recalled holding Angel in her arms as a newborn. “Even now, her body is at AIIMS, separated from the rest of them. She was pursuing her education away from home,” she said, drawing the heartbreaking parallel between life and death.Lata remembered the family’s love for travelling together and spending time with one another. Their social media posts reflected this.On Tarjani’s profile, one post contains a letter to Angel: “Remember your mumma loves you fiercely, unconditionally, and with so much pride. That’s one thing I hope you never forget.”