New Delhi: Inadequate fire-safety measures and an attempt to maximise profit by flouting building norms resulted in the loss of 23 lives in a devastating fire that tore through a bed and breakfast in south Delhi’s Hauz Rani on June 3, according to a chargesheet filed by Delhi Police Tuesday.
“After 10-15 minutes, the oil caught fire. In the 1,687-page chargesheet regarding the blaze that killed 23 people, including 14 foreigners and eight members of an Indian family, and left 20 others injured, the investigators charged the accused with deliberately disregarding basic fire-safety norms and illegally expanding the property to maximise commercial returns. The chargesheet invoked Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 326(g) (mischief by fire or explosive substance), 324(5) (mischief), 125(a) and 125(b) (acts endangering life or personal safety) and 287 (negligent conduct with respect to fire). The first distress call was received by emergency services at 8:48 am. Fire tenders reached the spot at 8:55 am but faced difficulty navigating Hauz Rani’s narrow and congested lanes. Firefighters used ladders, cutters and breathing apparatus during the operation, pulling out 48 people between 9 am and 11:30 am.
Because of the single entry and exit, “He earlier applied for a licence but did not get it.
The fire originated in the kitchen of the B&B, apparently from an unattended oil fryer that Negi allegedly left unattended while oil was heating and went to make tea, police sources said, according to the chargesheet. He then started the B&B, for which a fire no objection certificate (NOC) was not sought,” the source said. This amounted to complete negligence,” the sources added. They were aware of the risks posed by operating a commercial establishment without adequate fire-safety arrangements, but continued to do so, cops further alleged. Police alleged that Bajaj had altered the building’s structure despite knowing that it had only one entry and exit point. The fire was brought under control around noon.
It is based on statements of more than 130 witnesses, including members of the public, along with reports from BSES, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) and preliminary Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) inspections. its management was allegedly running at least 25 across four floors, a basement and an improvised rooftop facility While Flourish Stay was licensed to operate only six rooms. The final lab report is awaited. A key finding of the probe concerns the alleged illegal expansion of the property. On top of that, the building lacked an emergency fire exit.