Delhi hotel fire: No fire NOC, no trade license, many serious flaws revealed in initial investigation
After the death of 21 people in the massive fire that broke out in the hotel located in Malviya Nagar, Delhi on Wednesday, many shocking revelations have come to light in the investigation. According to preliminary investigation, there was serious disregard for safety standards in the hotel, which further increased the severity of the accident. According to officials, about 4 times more people were being accommodated in the hotel than its designated capacity. Not only this, the hotel neither had Fire Safety Clearance nor a valid trade license. Investigation has also revealed that additional floors were constructed in the building without informing the concerned authorities.
There was only one exit for people in this 5-storey building, which made evacuation work extremely difficult after the fire. The building’s main entrance was sensor-operated, while many windows were closed, officials said. In such a situation, during the spread of fire and smoke, people were left with very limited options to get out. This was the reason that many people got trapped on the upper floors and some had to jump from windows and balconies to save their lives.
Building plan not even submitted
According to officials, under the Bed-and-Breakfast (B&B) policy of the Delhi government, only 6 rooms were allowed to be operated in this building, but around 25 rooms were being operated here. That is, business activities were being carried out many times more than the prescribed capacity. The investigation also revealed that despite instructions from the concerned authorities, the building operators never submitted the complete building plan of the building. Due to this, official investigation and verification of the structure of the building, security arrangements and construction work done could not be done. Earlier investigation had also revealed that the hotel did not have the necessary fire safety clearance and trade license. Moreover, additional floors were constructed without permission and the five-storey building had only one exit route available in case of emergency.
fire Not even NOC
According to officials, the height of the building where the fire broke out was more than 15 meters, hence under the rules it was mandatory for it to obtain fire safety NOC (No Objection Certificate). However, investigation revealed that the building had no such approval. Officials said that necessary documents related to this commercial building were also not provided. Despite the information sought by the concerned departments, no satisfactory reply or documents were submitted by the building owner. Investigation has also revealed that no fire safety clearance was ever issued for this building. According to information, a restaurant was being operated on the ground floor of the building, while the basement and upper floors were being used as a hotel. In the preliminary investigation, it is suspected that the fire started from the lower part, after which the smoke and flames quickly spread throughout the building.
Fire started after electrical equipment was switched on
Sources related to the investigation said that a cook had arrived in the restaurant in the morning to start work. Shortly after he switched on the electrical equipment, a sudden fire broke out. Based on eyewitnesses and initial information, it is being said that before or during the fire, a loud sound like an explosion was heard, after which the flames started spreading rapidly. The intensity of the fire was so high that within no time the smoke and fire reached other parts of the building, trapping the people staying in the hotel and making rescue operations challenging. Deputy Chief Fire Officer A.K. Malik said that during the investigation, no necessary reference documents were provided by the operators of the building. At the same time, sufficient documents of necessary permissions and security clearances related to the building were not found in the records of the licensing agency.
Didn’t even have a trade license
According to officials, the building owner had applied for a trade license, but the process of issuing the license could never be completed as the required documents and building plans were not submitted. Officials associated with the investigation said that due to the building plan not being submitted, approval could not be obtained from the concerned building department and the license required for business operation remained incomplete. Despite this, hotels and other commercial activities were being operated in the building. The rescue work during the accident was also very challenging. According to officials, rescue teams had to use special cutter machines to cut shutters to reach people trapped in the basement. At the same time, due to many windows of the building being closed, firefighters and rescue teams tried to reach the people trapped inside by breaking them with hammers.
More than 20 police teams formed for investigation
According to police sources, investigation revealed that the license of the Tourism Department was issued in the name of Jai Mishra. Meanwhile, the owner of the building has been identified as 50-year-old Lavkesh Bajaj. Police has arrested Lavkesh Bajaj. Apart from this, his wife has also been arrested in the case. Investigating agencies believe that the hotel was being operated by three partners. Police suspect that these partners may also have links with several other hotels and guesthouses in different areas of Delhi. In such a situation, the scope of investigation is being expanded and the documents and licenses of their other establishments are also being examined.
Considering the seriousness of the matter, Delhi Police has formed more than 20 special teams for investigation. These teams are investigating the documents related to building construction, licensing records, hotel operations, financial transactions and the role of responsible persons at different levels. Police officials say that all the people responsible for the accident will be identified and legal action will be taken against them. At the same time, it is also being investigated whether there was any lapse in monitoring by the concerned departments, due to which the operation of the hotel continued for a long time without necessary approvals.
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