Investigators are examining whether a closed rooftop exit and possible safety lapses worsened the Malviya Nagar hotel fire, while police continue searches for key witnesses and the absconding manager.
MCD officials inspect the site of the Malviya Nagar hotel fire in New Delhi on Thursday as investigators examine alleged safety lapses and building violations linked to the tragedy. | ANI
A closed rooftop exit may have cost precious minutes to people trapped inside the Malviya Nagar hotel during the fire that killed several occupants, according to findings that have emerged during the investigation.
With questions mounting over fire safety measures at the property, Delhi Police has stepped up its probe and formed 10 teams to investigate the incident.
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Five of these teams have been tasked specifically with tracing hotel manager Jai Mishra, who remains absconding, while others are focusing on forensic findings, witness accounts and building-related violations.
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The development comes a day after the arrest of hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj. Investigators are now piecing together whether structural changes made to the property over the years, along with alleged lapses in safety arrangements, contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
According to sources, the hotel originally operated from a two-storey structure before additional floors were added later. Investigators are examining records related to the expansion as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Sources said police had issued a Look Out Circular against Sharma and his wife before the owner’s arrest as a precautionary measure. Investigators believed there was a possibility of him leaving the country, particularly as his children are settled abroad. Sources added that Sharma is the sole owner of the building.
A team from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) is scheduled to revisit the hotel on Thursday for a more detailed examination.
During an earlier visit, forensic experts were able to inspect only one floor. Investigators expect the fresh inspection to provide further clues about how the fire spread through the building.
Police have also recovered cooking heaters and other appliances from several rooms. Sources said these items were allegedly being used by foreign nationals who had been staying at the hotel for extended periods.
The fire resulted in deaths on the third floor as well as in the basement of the building. According to sources, most victims succumbed to suffocation rather than burn injuries.
Investigators are continuing efforts to locate Kesar Singh, a key eyewitness whose testimony is considered important in reconstructing the sequence of events and determining where the fire originated.
Delhi Police has identified nine of the 12 foreign nationals who died in the incident.
The details of all foreign victims have been shared with the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate the repatriation process.
Sources said the identification was carried out using passports recovered from the site. DNA profiling of all foreign nationals has also been completed after obtaining permission from the respective embassies.
Post-mortem examinations were conducted following clearance from the diplomatic missions of the countries concerned.
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