Lack of safety measures led to Arpit hotel fire: Crime Branch
"The fire spread through corridors from the first floor to envelop second, third and fourth floors, including the rooftop cafeteria. The fire did not spread to the ground and basement. At first glance the cause of fire is short-circuit which might have triggered sparking and fire, rapidly covering the entire hall portion," the officer said. "A Crime Branch team headed by Deputy Commissioner of Polce Rajesh Deo will take over the charge from Thursday. A Crime Branch team visited the hotel and collected some evidence on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning," said Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajiv Ranjan.
The FIR accessed by IANS said: "The hotel, owned by Shardendu Goel, used inflammable material such as rubber, ply-board and plastic for decoration on corridors, gallery and lobby. There were no signages for an emergency exit." "Most victims died after inhaling smoke. The victims staying on the first to fourth floors could not find their way out as a thick black smoke engulfed the entire area when they woke up after hearing cries of fire. There was no ventilation," the crime branch officer said.
As per the Arpit Hotel record, there were 46 rooms of which 35 were occupied by 60 guests on Monday night. There were 12 hotel employees including the manager, Vikas, on night duty. Instead of helping guests, nine of the staff escaped after the hotel was engulfed in the fire. "There was no fire alarm installed at the hotel. The hotel gallery and the corridor were smeared with soot," the officer added.
"A fire fighter identified as Subhash Arya was also injured during the rescue operation," The FIR said. The Crime Branch team has seized hotel documents and the record book of reception to study the sequence of the tragedy. The hotel manager, Vikas, and general Manager, Rajinder - arrested on Wednesday -- are being interrogated," the officer said.
"A manhunt is on to nab Shardendu Goel," he said. (Sanjeev Pal can be contacted at sanjeev.p@ians.in)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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