Delhi’s Malviya Nagar Hotel fire: Fear of fire due to short circuit, LPG explosion ruled out – how did this failure happen? 21 deaths, fire spread rapidly; Was bad wiring responsible? 25 rooms with permission of 6 rooms, illegal operation with whose connivance? Windows closed, single exit, owner arrested, is this gross negligence?
New Delhi: Malviya Nagar area of the country’s capital Delhi was shaken by screams on Wednesday morning. The massive fire that broke out in the ‘Flourish Stay B&B’ hotel here took away 21 innocent lives in no time. This painful accident has shaken the entire Delhi. Since the incident, police, crime branch and forensic teams are trying to find out the truth from the debris. The things coming to light in the initial investigation point towards some sinister conspiracy or gross negligence.
If the cylinder doesn’t blast, then what?
Immediately after the accident, it was feared that the disaster occurred due to the explosion of LPG cylinders present in the hotel. There were two active kitchens running in the basement and the top floor of the hotel, where several cylinders were present. But Delhi Police sources have completely rejected this theory. Investigators did not find any evidence of cylinder burst or gas explosion at the spot. So what was it that turned the entire building into a ball of fire within a few minutes?
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‘Silent killer’ hidden behind the walls
Forensic experts and police believe that the real reason for this devastation was the wiring network running within the walls of the hotel. According to initial findings, a catastrophic short circuit in the building’s internal wiring was the main culprit behind the tragedy. Officials say that the fire caused by electrical fault spreads so fast that no one gets a chance to take control. The internal electrical system played the role of a ‘silent killer’ here, which created a web of smoke and flames in no time.
‘Labyrinth of death’ under the guise of six rooms
As the scope of investigation is increasing, the dark deeds of the hotel management are coming to light. According to the documents, this place was given permission to operate only 6 rooms. But see the extent of greed – about 25 rooms were being run here by ignoring the rules. Not only this, living arrangements were also made in the basement bypassing the safety standards and additional floors were constructed without any administrative approval. With four times the permitted capacity, the hotel itself had prepared the basement for the disaster.
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Locked Windows and Sensor Doors: When the Roads Became the Enemy
When the fire broke out, there was an outcry in the hotel, but unfortunately all escape routes for the victims were closed. Investigation teams are now probing the serious structural lapses that trapped people:
- Sensor operated main door: As soon as the power was cut, the main digital door got locked, blocking the way out.
- Sealed Windows: The windows of the hotel were completely sealed, due to which the poisonous smoke could not come out and people started suffocating inside.
- Sole exit route: There was only one narrow passage in the entire building, which created a stampede-like situation.
Most of the people staying in this hotel were foreign nationals, who had come here to get their treatment in big hospitals of Delhi or to take care of their sick relatives. Little did they know that the house they had chosen for rest would become their graveyard.
Hotel owner arrested, demand for justice
Taking immediate action in this matter, Delhi Police has arrested the hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj. A case has been registered against the accused under several serious sections of the Indian Justice Code (BNS). This includes serious charges like culpable homicide (which does not amount to murder), recklessly endangering life and causing damage to property. At present, the crime branch and forensic teams are recreating the events. Interrogation of witnesses, surviving employees and local shopkeepers is ongoing. After the final forensic report comes in this case, it is considered certain that the law will tighten its grip on many more big faces.