FSL team scours site, chef, manager detained

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Friday detained the manager and the chef of the B&B in Hauz Rani where 21 people lost their lives in a devastating fire.

Police sources said the two were being questioned about what preceded the blaze on Wednesday, the management of the premises, the suspected cause of the fire, and structural alterations to the building.

A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) inspected the site and collected burnt electrical wires, as investigators suspect a short circuit may have triggered the fire. Samples of residue from other charred materials were also seized for forensic analysis. “The team collected evidence that filled at least four to five briefcases,” sources said.

The examination report of faults in the electrical stoves and ovens, seized on Thursday, is also awaited.

The FIR mentioned that the establishments had 28-29 rooms, including the basement, of which around 19 rooms were occupied. Police noted several safety lapses, including the absence of proper ventilation and a locked basement entrance.

The FIR was registered on the complaint of a police officer who received the PCR call.

A police team rushed to the spot. . They alerted the fire department and other emergency response agencies. Rescue operations were launched to evacuate those trapped and bring the fire under control.

A new video of the incident has also surfaced, showing a woman crying out for help while several people were seen standing near shattered windows as the fire raged inside the building.

At the site, authorities started action against several hotels. Preet, a resident, said: “Authorities have snapped the electricity connections, cutting off power supply to establishments that were still functioning.”