‘Power supply not snapped for over 2 hours after fire’

Indore: A delay in disconnecting electricity supply and conflicting accounts regarding source of the blaze have come under scrutiny in the fatal fire incident at Arham Villa in Brijeshwari Annexe, where eight members of the Pugalia family lost their lives.On Friday, a team from power department inspected the electric pole and wiring at the spot. Neighbours have alleged that supply was not snapped for nearly two hours after the fire broke out, complicating rescue efforts.Bharat Jain, who helped rescue family members using a ladder, told police that firefighters faced electric current while attempting to douse the flames with water. He said that he had to rush to the electricity department office in Scheme No 140 to get the supply disconnected. He also raised concerns over the use of water on what appeared to be an electrical fire.Investigators are reconstructing the sequence of events as statements from key survivors, including Sunita, her son Saurabh, and a younger family member, are being examined. Police believe these testimonies will be central to establishing how the fire started and spread rapidly across all three floors."We cannot base the investigation only on the statements of the family members and neighbours. It needs to be corroborated with scientific evidence and expert opinions," said Additional DCP Amarendra Singh.There are divergent claims over the origin of the blaze. The power department has suggested that an EV parked near an electric pole may have triggered the fire. The family, however, has maintained that sparking from the pole led to the incident. Eyewitnesses have backed this version, telling police they saw sparks and heard cracker-like sounds before flames engulfed vehicles and spread through the building.An expert team earlier examined the EV involved, inspecting its engine area, collecting samples, and documenting the vehicle.Singh said that initial findings indicate a short circuit, though a specialised probe may be initiated for a detailed analysis.The scale of the tragedy was intensified by the presence of more than a dozen commercial gas cylinders inside the house. Officials said live electricity during firefighting operations led to current flow, briefly putting firefighters at risk, while subsequent cylinder blasts escalated the fire.Police have recorded statements of over a dozen people so far, including neighbours and those involved in rescue operations.