ACP-rank officer to investigate Vashi lodge fire

NAVI MUMBAI: Criminal action will be taken against the owner of Wanton House lodge in Vashi if negligence is found to be behind the fire early on Friday that killed a young bank employee and injured 30 guests, said the police on Saturday.

The investigation of the accidental death case registered at the APMC police station was handed over to ACP Arun Walture.

"The police have conducted the panchanama and, prima facie, a case of accidental death caused by burning has been registered as one person was killed in the fire," he said. "Now we shall seek the mandatory reports from various government agencies like the MSEDCL, the fire department and the town planning department of the municipal corporation. If negligence is reported at any level, the owner will be liable to face a criminal case."

Deputy municipal commissioner Jagannath Sinnarkar said the lodge owner had not abided by fire safety norms as fire-fighting equipment was found to be inadequate.

Thirteen of the 17 persons admitted on Friday to Fortis Hiranandani Hospital in Vashi had obtained discharge by Saturday. Of the four still in the hospital, Saurabh Jain remainde critical with a fractured spine. Operated upon on Friday, he will need more surgeries.

The three other injured still at the hospital were identified as Om Prakash, Abhinav Srinivastava and Amardeep Chouhan.

Two Russians in their early thirties, Vehiamin S and Reneta Urakehem, admitted themselves to Sai Snehdeep Hospital in Kopar Khairane and were undergoing treatment for acute smoke inhalation.

(Inputs by Sameera Kapoor

Munshi and Indira Rodericks)

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