New Delhi: A magisterial inquiry into the June 3 fire at a Hauz Rani guest house that claimed 23 lives has found that the tragedy was the result of regulatory failures involving multiple govt agencies, and repeated opportunities to stop illegal construction and enforce safety norms were allegedly ignored over several years. The report submitted by the district magistrate of south has recommended disciplinary action against erring officials.The inquiry report has held the building owner and management responsible for carrying out unauthorised construction and operating the premises without mandatory safety measures. It also pointed to lapses by Delhi Police, MCD, tourism department and BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL), adding that deficiencies in licensing, inspections and enforcement enabled the illegally expanded building to continue functioning as a bed-and-breakfast facility.
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According to the report, police failed to act on MCD’s stop-work notices effectively and did not escalate the matter to higher authorities despite being aware that the building had been constructed illegally. The inquiry also alleged that a beat officer allowed construction to continue despite repeated civic action, raising the possibility of “collusion with the owner of the premises.”The tourism department also came under scrutiny for granting a B&B licence despite glaring deficiencies in the building. “The inspection committee concealed the facts in their inspection report that the building has no basement and has shown that only four floors have been built by the owner; however, in the inspection report itself, the map attached shows that there is a staircase downstairs to the basement,” stated the report. The report also stated that inspection officials overlooked the absence of a fire NOC, and failed to note inadequate ventilation in several guest rooms.The report, submitted to Delhi govt, also questioned the effectiveness of MCD’s enforcement, noting that despite issuing stop-work notices, seeking police assistance and asking BRPL to disconnect electricity to the building, the unauthorised construction continued and was eventually completed. It also criticised BRPL for not acting on MCD’s request to cut power supply.The report concluded that the fire started near an electric air fryer in the kitchen before an LPG hose pipe caught fire, triggering a gas leak and rapid smoke spread. It recommended structural audits, periodic safety inspections, hazard mapping, mock drills, stricter enforcement of fire safety norms and disciplinary action against officials found responsible for lapses.
