- 16 hours ago
A devastating fire at a bed-and-breakfast in Delhi's Malviya Nagar has claimed twenty-one lives, including foreign nationals, and left over forty others injured.
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NewsTranscript
00:03Good evening, you're watching To The Point. I'm Preeti Chaudhary. Lots lined up for you.
00:07Horrific tragedy in the national capital, claiming 21 lives. That's what we're leading with.
00:12And political developments coming in from West Bengal, where it seems that there is an imminent split where the TMC
00:19is concerned.
00:20All of that. First up, allow me to take you through the headlines.
00:26D.K. Shiv Kumar takes oath at Chief Minister of Karnataka.
00:31G. Parameshwar is the new Deputy CM. Total 13 ministers also take oath along with D.K.S.
00:37High Command Congress Chief Ministers in attendance.
00:43Massive blaze in Delhi's Malwia Nagar kills at least 21.
00:48Six foreign nationals were amongst those killed. Killer lapses emerge.
00:52Hotel had no fire, NOC, and operated beyond license limit.
00:57Owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, currently absconding.
01:05In a big setback for Mamata Banuji, rebel MLAs, Ritha Brata, recognized as leader of opposition in Bengal,
01:13claimed support of at least 60 MLAs.
01:15Mamata Banuji, Abhishek Banuji and the TMC top brass in a huddle.
01:24E.D. heat mounts on Didi's nephew, Abhishek Banuji, summoned by E.D. in teachers' recruitment scam,
01:31asked to appear before the probing agency on 15th June.
01:39Cine workers' body lifts non-cooperation directive against actor Ranveer Singh following his abrupt exit from film Dawn 3.
01:47Federation says they will respond to Ranveer's legal notice in a legal way.
02:19The latest news break coming in.
02:21And Ritha Brata says that he has the signatures of Overnight.
02:21In the support of 60 TMC MLAs in that light, Mamata Banuji now holding a one-on-one meeting with
02:28her nephew, Abhishek Banuji.
02:30Because the rebel camp has also put both Mamata Banuji and Abhishek Banuji in a bit of a quandary
02:36where suggesting that Mamata Banuji will continue to lead the party
02:40while they do not want Abhishek Banuji to be the inheritor or the heir apparent.
02:47And Ritha Brata says that he has the signatures of over 60 MLAs.
02:52The same man who has won his first election on a TMC ticket this time has been somebody who has
02:59come in from the left
03:00and now has been given the post of the leader of opposition.
03:05Earlier on, Mamata Banuji had held a meeting with the TMC top brass.
03:10You had in attendance Mr. Derek O'Brien, Kunal Ghosh and Abhishek Banuji as well.
03:16ED Heat also on the sidelines mounting on Abhishek Banuji
03:19where he has been asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate
03:22and the teachers and the alleged teachers recruitment scan
03:25and the date where he needs to appear is the 15th of June.
03:29So a lot is happening where the TMC in West Bengal is concerned.
03:33Is the TMC imploding?
03:34Well, by the looks of it, definitely because already now there is a leader of opposition in place
03:40who has been expelled by Mamata Banuji
03:44and who, the irony of it, says that Mamata Banuji continues to lead the party.
03:49What does it really mean?
03:50Let's get an information from both the camps coming in.
03:53Our West Bengal Bureau Chief Indrajit Kundu joins us right outside Mamata Banuji's residence
03:58where she is in a meeting with Abhishek Banuji.
04:01Joining me as well is Tapash Sen Gupta from the Vidhan Sabha.
04:04I want to go across to Indrajit first.
04:06Indrajit, you know, one really doesn't...
04:09How does one make sense of this?
04:11Because you have now a new leader of opposition
04:13who's the same person that Mamata Banuji has expelled from her party
04:19and now he has said that Mamata Banuji continues to lead the party with the 60 MLAs
04:26which he now represents in the State Assembly.
04:34Well, it's quite a catch-22 situation for the Trinamore Congress top brass.
04:39You know, I'm standing outside Mamata Banuji's residence.
04:41Several offer, you know, trusted aides, one can say.
04:45Madan Mitra has just come out.
04:47There is Chandrima Bhattacharya inside.
04:49Naina Bandhapadhyay was there.
04:51Dula Sen, others were there.
04:53And of course, most importantly, Trinamore Congress second in command.
04:56Abhishek Banuji is still inside.
04:58Now, we are given to understand the meetings that took place are over
05:02but we're waiting for Abhishek Banuji to come out
05:04because the entire issue has snowballed into the leadership,
05:09over the leadership of Abhishek Banuji
05:11because two-thirds of Mamata Banuji's winning MLAs
05:15are now questioning Abhishek Banuji's leadership
05:18and they're doing that pretty openly.
05:21We've spoken to Ritabrata Banuji two days back when I interviewed him
05:24and he said the same thing.
05:25They're questioning the role of the IPAC
05:27and they are questioning the authority of Abhishek Banuji.
05:30So, at this point in time,
05:32it's really unclear as to how things would proceed within the Trinamore Congress.
05:37Shobandam Chattopadhyay, who was the original nominee for the leader of opposition post,
05:40he left.
05:41He didn't have much to answer.
05:43The only thing that he said was,
05:45as long as the supporters were there,
05:47the party will continue.
05:48But there is a huge question mark on the party itself
05:52because two-thirds of the MLAs of the party
05:55are now vetoing Abhishek Banuji
05:58which in a sense is also vetoing Mamata Banuji
06:00because the letter that Abhishek Banuji had signed
06:02and sent to the Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly
06:05did of course have the consent of party chief Mamata Banuji.
06:09Now, what is going to be the next step?
06:12We don't know.
06:12But the Trinamore Congress is really in a huddle
06:15and back-to-back setbacks happening.
06:17There are only two options in front of Mamata Banuji now.
06:20Option number one,
06:21that she says that she will continue to fight.
06:24And this will then again have repercussions
06:27because this could go on and have an effect in Lok Sabha
06:31because the TMC has a sizable MP representation
06:34where Lok Sabha is concerned.
06:36This would definitely go to court if Mamata Banuji challenges this.
06:39In terms of the party and the symbol,
06:41we'll see what played out in Maharashtra
06:43with the Shiv Sena and the NCP
06:45then playing out in the state of West Bengal.
06:47She has another option where she accepts
06:49what seemingly is inevitable
06:50and continues to be the chief of her party
06:52which she has absolutely no control on.
06:59Well, that's a quandary
07:00for the Trinamore Congress Supreme Court clearly right now.
07:03And, you know, she yesterday gave a very explicit message.
07:07She said that she is, you know,
07:10as far as this party is concerned,
07:12as long as she is there and the supporters are there,
07:14she is good to go.
07:15So, and she has said this time and again in the past few days
07:19that whoever wants to leave may leave.
07:21The door is open.
07:22But the point, of course, remains is
07:24that once you have this revolt
07:26that has already taken place within the MLA's,
07:30this could well now, you know,
07:32also go on with the MPs,
07:35with the parliamentary party.
07:36And I can tell you,
07:37there are a lot of MPs,
07:39specifically, there are a lot of MPs
07:41who are known to be with the Abhishek Banerjee camp.
07:44They have gone completely incommunicado
07:47in the past few weeks
07:48ever since the results have come.
07:50So, there is unease amongst the party ranks.
07:52Today, the Trinamore Congress, of course,
07:54officially stated that
07:55all their committees have been dissolved.
07:57So, in that sense,
07:59the party is trying to resurrect and regroup.
08:01How soon they can do it,
08:03what is the roadmap for it,
08:05remains completely uncertain,
08:07really uncertain times
08:08for the Trinamore Congress.
08:10And a big, big challenge for Mamata Banerjee.
08:12It's a cat's 22 situation.
08:13Either she opts for her party
08:15or she opts for her nephew.
08:16You're right.
08:17Either she opts for her party
08:19or she opts for her nephew.
08:20But even if she opts for the party,
08:22she has no control over that party.
08:24Because the same man, Ritabrata,
08:27who is now the leader of opposition
08:29in the State Assembly,
08:30is the man that Mamata Banerjee
08:32has actually expelled from her party
08:34two days ago.
08:35So, how does this really come together?
08:37Well, like Indra pointed out,
08:39it's a cat's 22 situation
08:40for Mamata Banerjee.
08:41Which way will she go?
08:43And then, you look in the future.
08:45Because the TMC has 28 Lok Sabha MPs.
08:47Will there be implosion there?
08:49The TMC has 13 Rajas Sabha MPs.
08:51Will there be an implosion there?
08:52I'm joined right now.
08:53I'm going to cut across
08:54to the Vidhan Sabha.
08:56Lots of action there as well,
08:57earlier on.
08:58Taposh Sengupta joins us.
08:59Taposh, 59 signatures,
09:02including Ritabrata.
09:0360 of the 80 MLAs
09:05now side with Ritabrata
09:07as the leader of opposition.
09:13Well, yes, absolutely.
09:15You believe it or not,
09:16that's the reality now.
09:17Out of 80,
09:18what Ritabrata claims,
09:20that almost 60 signatures
09:22that they have secured so far.
09:24And then he said that this is not it.
09:27He didn't say anything in details,
09:29whether anybody or not.
09:31But as Indra said,
09:32it's just the beginning
09:33because we have learned from sources
09:35that there are several MPs
09:37who are also in touch.
09:38But most importantly,
09:40this time around,
09:41if you remember during election,
09:4374 winning candidates
09:45from 2021 elections
09:47were denied ticket
09:47and Abhishek Banerjee
09:49pitched new candidates
09:50in their place.
09:51And following that,
09:53the entire top structure
09:55of the party
09:55was not happy.
09:56Ritabrata have always been known
09:58to be very close
09:59to Abhishek Banerjee.
10:01Shondipan Shah
10:02known to be very close
10:03to Abhishek Banerjee.
10:03But why all of a sudden
10:04everything went out
10:05and went wrong
10:06is the larger question
10:07that they are not answering
10:08as of now.
10:09But as far as
10:10Momota Banerjee is concerned,
10:12it is now a matter of time
10:15that she'll have to
10:15take a decision
10:16whether to go with the party
10:18or go with the nephew
10:20that's Bhaipo,
10:21Abhishek Banerjee.
10:22Because today,
10:24these rebel MLAs
10:26have categorically stated
10:27that they still consider
10:28Momota Banerjee
10:29as the party leader.
10:30And henceforth,
10:31they want to seek advice
10:33from Momota Banerjee
10:34and the road map ahead
10:36for the Trinamul Congress
10:37to counter BJP government
10:38here in West Bengal.
10:39But at the same time,
10:40they have also made it
10:41very clear
10:42that no to Abhishek Banerjee.
10:44So whether Momota Banerjee
10:45will go on
10:46with the party
10:47or she will choose
10:49nephew Abhishek Banerjee
10:51is the larger question.
10:52That will only determine
10:53not only the future
10:54of Trinamul Congress
10:55but also the political future
10:57of Momota Banerjee.
10:58But even if she decides
11:00to go for this party,
11:01she has no control
11:02over this party.
11:02It's being led by people
11:03she's thrown out
11:04of her party.
11:09Yes, absolutely.
11:10Because, see,
11:10today,
11:11generally,
11:12the Trinamul Congress
11:13leaders address
11:13Momota Banerjee
11:15as the party's supremo.
11:16Today,
11:17be it Gulam Rabbani,
11:18be it Ritobrotha,
11:19Bondopada,
11:20everybody said
11:21that we want
11:22Momota Banerjee
11:22to continue
11:23as a chief advisor
11:24of the party.
11:25That means
11:25they want
11:26Momota Banerjee
11:27and whether
11:27if she remains
11:29with the party,
11:29will her role
11:30be limited
11:31is the larger question
11:32at this moment.
11:32But many people
11:34who have covered
11:35Bengal politics
11:36were very surprised
11:38to see people
11:38like from the old guards
11:40for, say,
11:41Javed Ahmed Khan,
11:43Gulam Rabbani,
11:45Shivli Shah,
11:46who have been
11:47very, very close
11:47to Momota Banerjee.
11:48They even chose
11:49to jump the ship
11:50and now they say
11:51that they are part
11:51of the Trinambul Congress
11:52and they want
11:53Momota Banerjee.
11:54So whether or not
11:55Momota Banerjee
11:56will continue
11:56or to what extent
11:58she will continue,
11:59whether this decision
12:00that have been taken
12:01by 60-odd MLAs
12:03and choosing LOP
12:04or the leader
12:04of opposition
12:05as Ritobrotha,
12:06Bondopada,
12:07will be challenged
12:07at the court
12:08is something
12:09that we have to
12:10wait and watch.
12:11But there are
12:11contemplations
12:12that there could
12:13be a possibility
12:14that Momota Banerjee
12:15or Trinambul Congress
12:16might move
12:17for a legal respite
12:19as far as
12:20the entire development
12:21is concerned.
12:22But tomorrow
12:23what will happen
12:24is something
12:25that we cannot
12:26speculate at this moment.
12:27Every now and then
12:28you see Virat Hakim
12:30all of a sudden
12:31went on to
12:31Momota Banerjee
12:32and tendered
12:33his resignation
12:33as mayor.
12:35So it's like
12:35a sandcastle
12:36that is falling apart
12:37and very little
12:38that Momota Banerjee
12:39can do at this moment.
12:40Now it remains
12:41to be seen
12:41what steps
12:42she takes
12:43and how she
12:44plans to move ahead
12:45with this
12:46Trinambul Congress
12:47or Ritobrotho,
12:48Bondopada,
12:49Shondi,
12:4960-odd MLAs
12:51Thank you both
12:52for joining us
12:52and giving us
12:53the latest
12:53because I want to
12:54now quickly
12:55cut across to
12:56the latest
12:56news break
12:56coming in
12:57from the
12:57national capital
12:58because away
12:58from all the
12:59political developments
12:59massive tragedy
13:01in New Delhi.
13:03The latest is
13:04that Mayor
13:05Parvesha Wahi
13:06has directed
13:07the MCD commissioner
13:08to conduct
13:08now a high-level
13:09inquiry
13:09into the Delhi
13:10fire tragedy.
13:11An order was
13:12issued to submit
13:13a detailed inquiry
13:14report within
13:14three days.
13:15Violations of
13:16building bylaws
13:17and fire safety
13:18regulations
13:19will be investigated.
13:20The role of
13:20municipal corporation
13:21officials and
13:22employees also
13:23falls under the
13:24scope of the
13:25inquiry.
13:25Many would suggest
13:26while the owner
13:27needs to be held
13:28accountable,
13:29and I'm going to
13:29just give you
13:30a sense of what
13:31has really
13:32transpired.
13:33This was a bed
13:46the MCD officials
13:47had no checks
13:48and balances.
13:49So yes,
13:49if the owner
13:50is responsible,
13:51the MCD is
13:53equally responsible
13:54and has blood
13:55on its hands.
13:56I'm joined right
13:57now by my
13:58colleague Amit
13:59Bhardwaj,
13:59who's joining us
14:00right outside
14:00Ames,
14:01where many injured
14:02have been taken
14:03to with severe
14:04burn injuries
14:05to the Safdar
14:05Junk Burns
14:06ward.
14:0721 dead,
14:0840 injured,
14:10some of them
14:11critical as we
14:12speak.
14:12Amit,
14:13what's the
14:13latest in terms
14:14of the mayor
14:15stepping in?
14:15Asking for a
14:16high-level inquiry
14:17and I would
14:17reckon the
14:18people of Delhi
14:19are sick of
14:20high-level
14:20inquiries
14:21because the
14:21MCD equally
14:23has blood on
14:24its hands
14:24as much as
14:25the owner
14:26of this
14:26establishment.
14:32Priti,
14:32the story is
14:33sad.
14:34The tragedy
14:35keeps on
14:35unfolding.
14:36I was
14:37literally at
14:38Saket Max
14:39Hospital this
14:40noon,
14:41where those
14:42who have lost
14:42eight members
14:43from their
14:44family,
14:44by the way,
14:44eight members
14:46they were
14:47thinking of
14:47the Upahar
14:48Cinema Khan
14:49today,
14:49saying that
14:49what happened?
14:50Where is
14:50justice?
14:51Their people
14:51are still
14:52fighting for
14:52their family
14:53members who
14:53lost their
14:54life inside
14:54Upahar.
14:55We remember
14:56Karol
14:56Bark fire,
14:58a lot of
14:58inspections were
14:59carried out
15:00across the
15:01national capital.
15:01It was
15:02assured by
15:02then Ahmad
15:03Admi Party
15:03government that
15:04nothing of
15:05this sort will
15:05be repeated.
15:06We have had
15:07fire tragedies in
15:08the past one
15:08year when the
15:09BJP has come
15:10to power in
15:10the MCD,
15:11in the center,
15:12in the national
15:13capital as well.
15:14And it
15:15seems that
15:15nothing has
15:16changed.
15:16Otherwise,
15:17that family,
15:17the Agarwal
15:18family,
15:18which lost
15:19eight members
15:20from their
15:21own family
15:22today,
15:23wouldn't have
15:24thought of
15:24Upahar when
15:25they have lost
15:26their own
15:26loved ones
15:27today.
15:27Because that
15:28is a memory
15:28that keeps
15:29haunting you
15:30all through
15:31decades,
15:32years.
15:32And imagine
15:3421 dead,
15:3718 of them
15:37were taken
15:38to Max
15:38Saket.
15:40The hospital
15:41is barely
15:41500 meters
15:42away from
15:43the tragedy
15:43spot.
15:44Where I'm
15:45standing right
15:45now,
15:4616 people
15:47were brought
15:47here,
15:48three are
15:49dead,
15:50including
15:50two foreign
15:51nationals,
15:52and one
15:53from Agarwal
15:53family,
15:54the girl
15:54named
15:55Jivisha
15:56or Angel,
15:57as they
15:58called her,
15:59you know,
16:00in the loving
16:00memory now,
16:02unfortunately,
16:03so to say.
16:04And what
16:04has happened,
16:05I spoke to
16:06doctors,
16:06I asked them
16:07what happened,
16:07what was the
16:08cause of the
16:08death,
16:09they said
16:09that smoke
16:10and fumes
16:11had raised
16:12these people
16:13even before
16:14fire could,
16:15and eventually
16:16they succumbed
16:17because they
16:17were suffocating.
16:19One survivor
16:20that I met
16:21the family of
16:21the survivor
16:22rather,
16:22Vishal.
16:23Vishal lives
16:24in Punjab,
16:25Swathepod,
16:26Sahib,
16:27he had come
16:27here for
16:28physiotherapy
16:28at Max
16:29Saket,
16:30was staying
16:30at that
16:30hotel
16:31for a
16:32better
16:32health care
16:34and he
16:35was stuck
16:35on the
16:35third floor
16:36today,
16:37tried his
16:38best to
16:38break the
16:39window panes
16:39and he
16:40literally
16:41jumped,
16:41the visual
16:41that we
16:42are seeing
16:42on our
16:42screens,
16:43many of
16:43those
16:44visuals,
16:44you know,
16:44people jumping
16:46from that
16:46building,
16:47Vishal was
16:48one amongst
16:48them,
16:49he has
16:50sustained
16:51injuries on
16:52his arms,
16:52in his
16:53spinal cord,
16:54the family,
16:55I will tell
16:56you,
16:56I cannot
16:57reiterate the
16:58way they
16:59said it,
16:59that when
17:01they came
17:01at the
17:02hospital,
17:03they were
17:03looking for
17:03dead bodies
17:04and they
17:05were relieved
17:05when they
17:06got to
17:06know that
17:06Vishal is
17:07alive and
17:09going through
17:10treatment,
17:11so that's
17:11the kind
17:11of emotion
17:13it's devastating
17:14for the
17:15families of
17:16the 21
17:17who perished
17:17in this
17:18fire,
17:19it puts a
17:19question mark
17:20on how
17:20terribly our
17:22safety laws
17:23are enforced
17:24in this,
17:25the national
17:26capital of
17:27the country
17:27and because
17:28the tragedy,
17:30most of them
17:30who were there
17:31today at this
17:32bed and
17:32breakfast had
17:34come in for
17:34either their
17:35own treatment
17:36or treatment
17:36of their loved
17:37ones because
17:38there was a
17:38big hospital
17:39like Amit
17:40was just
17:40seducidating
17:41right opposite,
17:42who has
17:42blood on
17:43his hands,
17:44not just
17:44the owner.
17:45The MCD
17:46of the
17:47national
17:47capital is
17:48equally
17:49culpable.
17:50I'm going
17:50to take you
17:51through the
17:51sequence of
17:52events today
17:52which were
17:53filed by my
17:54colleague Amit
17:54Bhartawaj and
17:56our other
17:56reporters who
17:57cover the
17:58Delhi beat.
17:59A devastating
18:00fire first
18:01tore through
18:01a bed and
18:02breakfast in
18:03Delhi's
18:03Malwia Nagar
18:04claiming 25
18:04lives and
18:06leaving behind
18:07disturbing
18:08questions and
18:09over 40
18:10injured, some
18:10of them
18:11critical as
18:11we speak.
18:12Investigators
18:13are now
18:13probing allegations
18:14of overcrowding,
18:15missing safety
18:16clearances and
18:17violations that
18:19have worsened the
18:21expanse of this
18:21tragedy.
18:22Was this
18:22unavoidable?
18:23Definitely.
18:24Take a look.
18:37Another day,
18:38another disaster,
18:39another deadly
18:40reminder of a
18:41system that
18:42wakes up only
18:43after lives
18:44are lost.
18:45This time,
18:46a massive fire
18:47ripped through
18:47a restaurant-cum
18:48hotel in
18:48Malwia Nagar in
18:49Delhi, turning
18:50a place of
18:51shelter into
18:52and death
18:52and death
18:55The
18:55people
18:55jump
18:56to
18:56jump
18:57want to
18:57jump
18:58What is
18:59safe?
19:00People
19:01are safe.
19:01People are
19:01safe.
19:02People are
19:02casualties are
19:03on the third floor.
19:04We had three Nigerians, four Nigerians who were flying above, who had their own knowledge.
19:11So, after that, they cut the shutter, the fire team, the gate is cut.
19:16There was a smell here, there was a lot of smell here.
19:20So, we thought, what is it? Then, we thought it was like this. Then, there was sparking.
19:23After that, people were calling the fire brigade.
19:27We started calling the fire brigade at 8 o'clock.
19:29There was a fire brigade at 9.40.
19:31What about regular checks and renewal of licenses? How was that allowed?
19:36There were so many irregularities that have been reported here.
19:40This was not an accident. This was criminal negligence on the part of not just the authorities,
19:47but also, of course, the people who were running this Airbnb.
19:52Flames shot out of windows. Thick black smoke swallowed the building.
19:58Desperate guests, trapped in sight, made difficult choices to escape by jumping out of the window.
20:15Outside, sparks flew from live wires as panic gripped the narrow lanes of Ausrani.
20:21When the rescue operation was running, and when people were running from the area,
20:27people were running from the area,
20:28people were running from the area.
20:28The big monster was running from the area.
20:31If people were running from the hotel, they would be running from the area.
20:37Firefighters rushed to the spot and rescued people from the basement as well.
20:41The victims, who were mostly foreign nationals, were taken to the nearby Max Hospital.
20:47Basically, there were 2-3 types of injuries predominantly.
20:49One, as I said, it was a lung injury.
20:53Second, minor burns.
20:55And the third, bones injury.
20:56Because many patients claimed that they jumped from the building.
21:01So, there were fractures, long bone fractures, pelvic bone fractures.
21:06And now, disturbing questions and glaring lapses are emerging.
21:10Sources say the establishment was licensed for just six rooms under the Delhi government's bed and breakfast scheme.
21:16Yet, nearly 25 rooms were allegedly being operated, including rooms in the basement.
21:21No fire in a sea.
21:23Only one entry and exit point.
21:25A building packed with guests.
21:28The shock doesn't end there.
21:30In another nearby hotel, investigators reportedly found similar violations.
21:35More rooms than permitted.
21:36Exposed electrical wiring.
21:38And inadequate escape rooms.
21:41There are three rooms there.
21:44And there are four rooms.
21:45And there are five rooms.
21:47There are 105 rooms.
21:48There are also five rooms on this floor.
21:51Because there are three rooms.
21:53There are six rooms in bed and breakfast.
22:01The government seems to have finally woken up.
22:25The government seems to have finally woken up.
22:33The tragedy has triggered a political slugfest with the Aam Admi Party accusing the Delhi government of failing to curb
22:40recurring fire incidents in the capital.
23:00After three major disasters in five days.
23:04The collapse of a building in Mehrali on the 30th of May.
23:09The fire in a building in Mukherjee Nagar on the 31st of May.
23:15And now the deadly blaze in Malmen Nagar.
23:18The investigation is underway.
23:19But as Delhi accounts its dead once again, one question refuses to go away.
23:24How many more lies will be lost before safety rules stop being treated as mere paperwork?
23:31With Arvind Hoja, Jitendra Bahadur and Sushant Mehra in Delhi.
23:35Bureau Report, India Today.
23:41So of course the owner is responsible.
23:43But allow me to take you through on who all are responsible.
23:46This is a scheme which is the said in the bed and breakfast had been cleared under the bed and
23:54breakfast scheme which comes under the Delhi tourism department.
23:57Now in that term, permissions were given for six rooms.
24:03Nearly over 18 to 24 rooms were functioning in this particular bed and breakfast.
24:08Now the responsibility in this especially where it comes down to the fire safety compliances is of the fire department.
24:16The fire department has to make sure that there are checks and balances in place periodically.
24:22Where these bed and breakfasts are concerned to see that fire compliances and fire safety compliances are being met with.
24:30Did they do so? Remains to be investigated.
24:33The municipal corporation ensures building and construction norms are met.
24:37Did they do so? Remains to be investigated.
24:39I want to cut across right now to my colleague, Arvind Ojha, who is joining us live with the latest
24:43details.
24:44Arvind, the owner of this building is a failure.
24:47But in this building, the fire department in Delhi, the MCD in Delhi is also equally.
24:55Why there are no checks and balances, why there are no safety checks?
24:59Why there are no checks and balances?
24:59Once again, this clearance has been cleared under the bed and breakfast of six rooms.
25:08It is also a big question.
25:11If there is no clearance in Delhi, it doesn't follow the hotel in Delhi.
25:17But in Delhi, you have to take it and take it all.
25:46ཁતོ སྲོན
25:50department की mcd की building department की tourism department की सवाल यह
25:55है कि क्या कोई बड़ा action होगा या फिर law case के खिलाब
25:59FIR दर्ज करके उसके बाद उसको court में paste किया जागा कुछ
26:04दिन में उसको जमानत मिली जानी है बहुत मुम्किन हुआ तो
26:07कुछ अधिकारियों को suspend करके खाना पूर्ती कर दी जाएगी या फिर
26:12जो जमिदार जो concern department है उनके अधिकारियों के खिलाब भी
26:16FIR दर्ज होगी या legal action लिया जाएगा जब legal action लिया जाएगा किसी
26:22भी officers के खिलाब तभी इस तरह के हाथ से रुकेंगे नहीं तो दिल्ली के
26:27अलग-अलग इलाकों में ऐसे कई hotel चल रहे है जिनको तरह तरह के license
26:32मिले है और license कैसे मिलते है वो दिल्ली की जनता को भी पता है
26:36सभी को पता है तो जरूर यह है कि पहले एक mega drive चलाया जाए कंसन अधिकारियों की तरफ से
26:43दिल्ली सरकार उसको
26:44supervise करें जितने भी hotels है या restaurant है क्या उनको fire के noc है या नहीं है और सवाल
26:51यह है कि fire के noc है तो कैसे वो
26:54वो हासिल कर लिए क्या वो norms को follow करते है या नहीं करते है यह सब की checking हो
26:59तभी इस तरह के हाथ से रुख सकते है अधरवाइस किसी भी
27:03department से license लेना दिल्ली में बहुत मुश्किल काम नहीं है कई बार तो ऐसा होता है कि अधिकारी inspection
27:09करने नहीं जाते है ले देकर license आसानी से
27:12मिल जाता है अगर दिल्ली में drive चलाया जाया तो ऐसे कई hotel कई restaurant आपको मिल जाएंगे तो बड़ा
27:19सवाल ही है कि क्या इस तरह के हाथ से के बाद सरकार जागेगी क्या अधिकारियों के खिलाफ legal action
27:27लिया जाएगा अगर legal action लिया जाएगा कोई बड़ा कदम उठाया जाएगा
27:31तब ही इस तरह के हाथ से रुकेंगे लौकेस की बात करें तो इंडिया टुडे की team यहाँ पर मौजूद
27:36है बजाज family का यह कोटी है जिसी एक फ्लोर पर लौकेस बजाज रहता है जब hotel में आग लगी
27:41उसके बात से वो गायब है दिली पुलिस का कहना है कि उसको सर्च किय
27:48अर्विंद बस एक सवाल आपसे कहूंगी आपने बहुत बहतरीन तरीके से explain किया कि ले देकर सब कुछ हो जाता
27:54है पर इस लेने देने में 21 जाने गई है 40 बहुत ही जखमी है अभी अर्विंद इस particular bed
28:01and breakfast की बात अगर की जाए तो क्या licenses clearances थी इसके पास या भी भी वो जाच
28:08में है देखियो बिल्कुल जाच में और जो अभी जान अनकंफर्म रिपोर्ट है मैं पहले बताओ अभी जो जानकारी है
28:20दोजार 24 में इनको license मिला था लेकिन यह समझना होगा कि एक building बनती है उसमें किसी भी department
28:28को license देना होता है चाहे टूरिज्म डिपार्टमेंट हो
28:32M.C.D. हो लेकिन अगर उस building में एक भी rule को follow नहीं किया जा रहा है मसलन
28:38अगर fire department NOC नहीं दे रहा है तो फिर वो गैर कानूनी ही माना जाएगा तो कोई other department
28:45आकर license कैसे दे दे रहा है यानि अगर fire NOC नहीं दे रहा है यानि वहाँ पर safety norms
28:51को follow नहीं किया जा रहा है यानि वो खत
28:55तरह के दायरे में आता है तो कोई भी license किसी भी department को देना होता है तो प्रॉपर उस
29:01building की checking की जाती है कि building क्या किस तरह से बनी है exit entry कैसी है या फिर
29:07उसके बाद ही license issue होता है तो license issue कैसे हुआ किस ने किया जैसा मैंने आपको बताया कि
29:15दिल्ली में आंध लोगों से पूछ लीज
29:25बिल्डिंग का inspection करें अब जैसे जिस building में आग लगी है हमने वहां पर जाकर reality चेक किया उसमें
29:32exit entry नहीं एक ही है नंबर एक नंबर दो पूरा जो होटल हो पैक्ड है हालत यह रही कि
29:39शायद इसी वजह से चुकि होटल पैक्ड है exit entry एक है आग लगी वह पूरे होटल में फै
29:55और अगर वह लाइसेंस भी अप्रूब नहीं होता अगर fire के नोसी नहीं है क्योंकि कोई भी building है उसमें
30:01यह तो जरूर देखा जागा ना कि वहां पर जो लोग बैठे है क्या कभी कोई हाथसा हो जाता है
30:07तो क्या उनकी जान को खत्रा तो नहीं हो सकता है तो अगर fire के नोसी
30:12नहीं है मतलब और भी जो लाइसेंस है वो कैंसिल हो जाने चाहिए थै अब लाइसेंस कभ मिले कैसे मिले
30:19इसकी इनवेस्टी के संदिली पुलिस करेगी
30:24Many thanks, Arvind, for joining us right outside the owner's residence,
30:28but it is not just the owner.
30:30It is the tourism department, it's the fire department,
30:34it is the MCD equal culpability in 21 lives that have been lost today.
30:41I want to cut across right now to our panelists this evening.
30:44Joining me are Krishnamurti, General Secretary,
30:47Association of the Victims of the Upahar Tragedy,
30:49Dr. Harish Tripathi, Principal Architect, AR, HTA New Delhi,
30:54Priyanka Kakkar, National Spokesperson, Amadmi Pati, Shikha Rai, Delhi, BJP MLA.
30:59I want to cut across now before anybody else,
31:02because that's the tragedy of what we live in and the kind of conditions we allow.
31:09I want to go to Mr. Krishnamurti first,
31:12the General Secretary of the Association of the Victims of Upahar Tragedy.
31:16Because, Mr. Krishnamurti, Upahar, you know, the Upahar Tragedy has left an indelible mark on the conscience of every Delhiite,
31:25no matter what generation you've been in.
31:27And yet today, we've seen something which is as bone-chilling, where, what, eight members of a family have been
31:34taken away.
31:35But if the victims of the Upahar Tragedy are still fighting for justice, what's the hope for this lot?
31:43Ashir Bhatia is a deja vu moment for us, and my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost
31:48the loved ones.
31:49Yes, sir, the right thing is 29 years, only 29 years, on 13th of June, 2026 now.
31:55They've been fighting for the last 29 years, and they're still in courts.
31:59I've heard all the politicians and everybody.
32:03But it's all just a cliché.
32:05He said,
32:06All those things.
32:09But at the end of the day, end of the day, you see what happened in this hotel.
32:15One exit and one entry.
32:17Same thing in Upahar.
32:19Upahar had extra seats.
32:20This hotel had extra rooms.
32:23People jumped from the second and third floor.
32:25Upahar also, from the second floor, people jumped.
32:27People died of asphyxia.
32:29Here, also, people died of asphyxia.
32:31What has changed?
32:31In 29 years, nothing has changed.
32:35So many tragedies after Upahar.
32:36We've been knocking at the door of the government.
32:39We've been knocking at the door of the courts.
32:41That we have to have special laws to deal with such man-made disaster.
32:45If this is actually man-made disaster, I won't call it an accident.
32:47It's not negligence.
32:49Everybody knows.
32:50The gentleman who was your reporter said the right thing.
32:54Everything is available for money.
32:56Everything is available for a price.
32:58And I'm sorry to say, the same MCD people, DFS people, they won't tell them how to contravene the rules.
33:05You contravene this rule.
33:07You contravene this rule.
33:08And after that, they take money and they give NOC.
33:11What happened to Upahar?
33:12NOC was given by a Delhi Fire Service official when he was on casual leave, sitting in his office.
33:21What is...
33:22I don't know what's going to happen.
33:25Fire safety matters, Preeti.
33:27Every life matters.
33:30You mean to say that these people who have died, how are they going to get justice?
33:36It's all going to be politicized.
33:37It's all going to...
33:38Yes.
33:39In the next one week, ten days, you take my words.
33:41It will be forgotten.
33:44Nobody is going to tell them.
33:44And people who have...
33:45Victims are going to repent for themselves.
33:47Like, we are fighting for the last 29 years.
33:49And you've seen us fighting for the last 29 years, Preeti.
33:52You've been...
33:53You've seen what all we have to face in the courts.
33:57What I...
33:57I don't know.
33:58I don't...
33:59I don't have any expectation.
34:00I'm very sorry to say it.
34:02You might call me cynical, but yes, nothing is going to happen.
34:04Whatever the politicians say.
34:06Whatever the...
34:06There is corruption.
34:08And this corruption is going to stay.
34:09And people are going to die unless they're going to take some action.
34:12Just suspending some people.
34:13Nothing is going to happen.
34:15Nothing is going to happen.
34:16What happened, Nukhar?
34:17We got people from MCD.
34:19We got people from DFS.
34:21They all got caught free because at the end of the day, courts are quiet.
34:25They're very...
34:25They are government servants.
34:27What can they do?
34:28They did their duty.
34:29They had the right intentions, but it happened.
34:32It's an accident.
34:32It's not an accident.
34:35It's a culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
34:38And it did not happen.
34:39Because, Upahar, what happened?
34:40We are trying to tell people that this is...
34:41You know, like, this is a culpable homicide.
34:43The court said, no, no, no, no.
34:44They have charged you under the negligence.
34:46No, this will go as per negligence only.
34:48And they go to every...
34:49Supreme Court.
34:50And everybody is going to cite this.
34:52This is going to become a precedent.
34:54War goes to court.
34:55They say, oh, no.
34:56Upahar, 59 people died.
34:57124 people...
34:58103 people injured.
34:59No, they're only...
35:00304.
35:01Why?
35:01Why a culpable homicide here?
35:05I can...
35:06I can...
35:07I know politicians might come and say anything they want to.
35:10By the end of the day, it is the victims who have to fight alone.
35:13And they're alone.
35:14They're going to fight.
35:15And they're going to go for years and years and years like we are going for the last 29 years.
35:18We're still in courts.
35:21I don't know what's going to happen.
35:22I'm sorry.
35:23You might call me cynical.
35:24But yes, I'm telling you with my experience.
35:28Things are worse.
35:29It's getting deteriorated day by day.
35:31Corruption is increasing day by day.
35:33Everything is...
35:34I was sitting with one of the DFS officers.
35:35I don't want to name him.
35:36He's a retired person.
35:37He's saying that the rate of the NOC has gone up since the time they've started building multiplexes and multi
35:45-story buildings.
35:46The rate of the NOC has gone up.
35:48People just pay money and get it because they don't want to spend money.
35:50Basically, it costs 4-5% of the total construction cost to provide fire safety alarms.
35:57They don't want to follow that.
35:58I don't know why.
35:59Everybody wants to fill in the coffers.
36:00People are being so selfish.
36:02They want to fill in the coffers.
36:03That's all.
36:04I'm sorry to say.
36:08No, Mr. Krishnamurthy.
36:10Your cynicism is completely justified.
36:12You are still in court after uphar.
36:1559 people had lost their lives then.
36:17And it's your angst, your anger.
36:19I'm surprised it's as contained as it is, sir.
36:22You know, I want to, because it's bizarre, the Delhi LG, the Lieutenant Governor, had held a high-level meeting
36:28and has ordered a month-long drive for fire safety compliances in hotels, nursing homes, coaching centers, resorts.
36:35I'll come back to you, Mr. Krishnamurthy.
36:38How hollow does it sound to you?
36:39Yeah.
36:46Do you want an answer?
36:47Yes, sir. Go ahead.
36:48Yeah.
36:49You see, Preeti, I don't remember, but a few years prior, there was a massive fire in a restaurant.
36:55After that, also, they said they're going to inspect all the restaurants and make sure that, you know, like, these
37:01things don't reoccur.
37:02Nothing happened.
37:03Even in Uphar case, there was an inquiry conducted by the Deputy Commissioner, not the police, Deputy Commissioner of South.
37:09And very well, very well written, it was appreciated even by the Supreme Court.
37:14We took that matter.
37:16We filed a civil case on the basis of that inquiry report.
37:19But I don't know.
37:20Most of the inquiry reports, they collected, you know, in the obscure corner.
37:23They'd be lying in the obscure corner of some ministry collecting dust.
37:26That's all.
37:27We, as an association, in 2012, we went to the Law Commission.
37:32There's a police bringing the law to deal with such man-made disaster.
37:34Don't link it with this accident.
37:36Law Commission agreed with us.
37:38They sent the report to the ministry.
37:41I don't know what's happening.
37:43We've been written, writing letters to the law minister.
37:45Nothing comes.
37:45We are a small group of people.
37:47We are doing our best.
37:47You know, I don't know.
37:49People have to now join together and bring in a movement.
37:52Like I told you, fire safety matters.
37:54Every life matters, Preeti.
37:56People have to fight for the rights.
37:58I hear you, Mr. Krishnamooti.
38:00You said that eight members…
38:01My heart goes out to you.
38:02But what is that really, you know, what is that tantamount to?
38:05Absolutely nothing if nothing can be done.
38:07And I am sorry that you and the victims of the Uphar tragedy that contain many, many families
38:14have to still go through what they are.
38:16But…
38:16And you are completely right.
38:18Nothing will happen in this as well.
38:20Because what will happen is the owner will be put into jail for optics for a brief while
38:25and then he'll be let go after some point of time.
38:28The MCD, the fire department will continue their drives for optics and nothing will happen.
38:34Therefore, I want to cut across to Ms. Shikha Rai who is joining us.
38:38Ms. Shikha Rai, you know today people don't care about who the owner of this particular bread and breakfast is.
38:45Whether he's caught or not caught.
38:47What we really care about is what was your fire department doing?
38:51What was your MCD doing?
38:52What was your state government doing?
38:54What was your tourism department doing?
38:57This time around in Delhi you have a triple engine.
39:00You have your government at the centre.
39:01You have it at the state.
39:02You have it at the MCD level.
39:04What is it that your government was doing, ma'am?
39:11Sorry, I'm getting a cracked voice.
39:13I'm not able to hear your question, please.
39:17Madam, can you hear me now?
39:18Is it better?
39:19I've sent a message also.
39:21I've not been able to hear what all…
39:23Are you going to try and correct the audio?
39:25Yeah, now.
39:25You can hear me?
39:27Yeah, sure, please.
39:28Alright, we'll try and correct Ms. Shikha Rai's audio because…
39:31It's okay now.
39:33Let me repeat the question again, Ms. Rai.
39:36The fact is I don't think anybody today who's watching this broadcast really cares whether the owner is arrested or
39:41not.
39:42We care and people care on whether action will be taken, where the MCD is concerned, where the fire department
39:50is concerned, where your tourism department is concerned.
39:53For the first time you have a triple engine.
39:54The centre-state MCD, all your government.
39:58Who is responsible?
39:59Will heads roll?
40:00In what capacity will they roll?
40:02Will they be jailed for the loss of 21 lives, madam?
40:07Definitely, ma'am.
40:08If the investigation thereafter finds out that there are culprits, be it any authority and be it the owner also
40:17who's held responsible and who's run away…
40:20He will also be put to task, he will not be spared…
40:23Can I ask you something?
40:24Allow me…
40:25I rarely ever come in when somebody is speaking but, you know, please allow me to come in right now.
40:29What do you mean if there is?
40:31Clearly there is.
40:33Ma'am, let me also just say a few words from my side.
40:38The fact of the matter is that, in this case, as it was applied for a six-bed licence in
40:46the year 24 by the previous government, the tourism minister there and then gave a licence for this.
40:51I may please tell you that there is no policy by the previous governments to scrutinise or for any surveillance
41:00whether it is being misused or not.
41:03Because there is a policy of three years that after three years, the licence will be renewed.
41:08At that time, the authorities can go and see to the situation what it is to be renewed or to
41:15be cancelled.
41:15So, there is no policy of scrutiny as such. And for a six-bed bed and breakfast, there was no
41:23fire NOC required.
41:25So, what I am trying to tell you is that there was no policy as such for any fire safeties,
41:31for any measures, there is no policy.
41:33And in future, as you have seen today...
41:36Madam, are you telling me that there is no policy? Are you telling me when somebody applies for a bed
41:41and breakfast clearance and a certification for that, you are telling me that there are no ground checks?
41:48That nobody really goes and sees whether they have a fire exit or not, even if it is just six
41:53beds?
41:54It is okay, it is given? Because the faith is so strong?
41:59What do you...
42:00Right.
42:00Make your point ma'am, make your point.
42:02Yeah, when a licence is applied, the authorities have told me so, that at that time, since they are only
42:09using six beds and the licence is given after checking and verifying all the facts.
42:14But later on, if such kind of activities or misuse of the premises is being done by the owner, there
42:20is no policy whether it can be checked on a regular basis or no.
42:24They say that if only there is a complaint, then only we can go and check the premises for that
42:29matter.
42:29Otherwise, only after three years, when the licence is to be renewed, that the premises are again checked and all
42:36those measures are taken up.
42:37So, what I am trying to say is, ma'am, since there was no policy at all on this matter
42:41by the previous governments, in the future...
42:44Madam, you know, it is mind-boggling how you are shifting blame on the previous government. We have somebody from
42:49the previous government as well, right?
42:50But it is amazing because this is what it comes down to. It tantamounts to exactly this, where you pass
42:55the buck to the previous government because there is no policy.
42:58So, what happened when you took over in 2025? You sat in on these policies, right?
43:05There was no checks, no balances, everything was going on.
43:10Okay, I will come back to you. Allow me to bring in Priyanka Kakkar.
43:14Priyanka Kakkar, you know, today you can come and hold the government responsible for the loss of 21 lives.
43:21I will take you back to the Karol Bagh fire tragedy, where, correct me if I am wrong, 17 people
43:26died in that tragedy.
43:27At that point of time, the MCD was yours, the fire department was yours, the tourism department was yours.
43:32What's happening there, madam?
43:36On that case, because people are still fighting.
43:38Firstly, I expressed deepest...
43:41Go ahead, make your point.
43:43I expressed deepest condolences for what has happened today.
43:46It's a murder that has happened today.
43:48You can blame us all you want.
43:51But that will not solve the problem, Preeti.
43:54We need to see that the MCD has been extensively and majorly under the control of BJP for the past
44:0120 years with a break of about one and a half year in between.
44:04Having said that, let me also tell you where these lacunas clearly...
44:07The BJP should own up to this.
44:09You know, Rekha Gupta ji, she tweeted today.
44:12She gave a clean check to all the departments and she went underground.
44:16After that, she is nowhere to be found.
44:17Now, most shameful is that the locals of the area informed me that this was a khadi bhandar and then
44:24it had been converted to a bread and breakfast with six rooms which permission was allowed by the MCD.
44:32Now, Preeti, I can tell you with 100% assurance.
44:35If you have to put one eat in Delhi, then it's a problem.
44:40There will be 100 people of MCD.
44:42You will have to eat money for the extra portion which you will make.
44:45So when this hotel converted from 6 to 25, strangely no police officers saw it.
44:50Strangely no MCD officials saw it.
44:52Are you ready to believe that, Preeti?
44:54They are all in cahoots.
44:55The money goes up and down.
44:56And this is the result of BJP corruption that people are dying.
44:59Having said that also, there is another requirement.
45:01But madam, people were also dead on your watch.
45:05People died in your watches.
45:06They have to immediately inform.
45:07Priyanka ji, may I remind you that it was Mr. Saurabharadwaj, the tourism minister then and at that time who
45:13had given this license.
45:14No, you know, I really don't want to, can I, can I, I don't, okay, answer that question.
45:18Fair question to be asked.
45:19Shikharai ji, we will come to my time.
45:20Shikharai ji, we will come to my time.
45:22Let me, let me, let me come back.
45:24Let me first finish what I have to say.
45:26I will take all your questions and not like the BJP that will run away or go underground.
45:29Now, what has happened in this?
45:31Foreign nationals, if they are staying in a place, they have to mandatorily inform the government.
45:35So, the government, within 24 hours, mind you.
45:38So, the government was very well aware that the people were staying in such a large capacity in this hotel.
45:43They cannot deny that because foreign national ki sari report in ke pas hoti hai.
45:48Ninety percent of people who perished today were foreign nationals who were seeking medical attention here.
45:52Thirdly, shamelessly again, Rekha Gupta ji gave a clean check to the fire department which came about two hours late.
45:59I saw two eyewitness statements on your channel, Preeti, which said so that they made calls at 8 am, but
46:06there was no fire brigade till 9.30 at least.
46:08And look at the fire chief, he comes on your channel again today and gave a clean check to himself.
46:13Madam, all well and good when you are on this side of the government which is the opposition.
46:18When you were in governance, ma'am, there were enough incidents.
46:21It is not about this side or that side, Preeti.
46:23Okay.
46:23It is not about this side or that side, Preeti.
46:26It is Indian za khatro ke khiladi today.
46:28And you know, like I said, MCD, which is the sole authority for granting these licenses, has been with the
46:35BJP for the longest time.
46:37And even otherwise, it's been one year and you were telling me that the bed and breakfast expanded from 6
46:42to 25.
46:43Right.
46:456 to 25, no one saw it.
46:46When it was 6 to 25, it was made of the peace.
46:48You thought it was made of the labor.
46:50The labor came from the peace.
46:51The peace came from the peace.
46:52The expansion came from the peace.
46:53You know, Ms. Shikha Rai, that anyone who lives in Delhi, Ms. Rai, I know you're from Greater Kailash.
47:00Anyone who lives in Delhi will stand testimony that if you try and even hide and build something in your
47:07house, whether it's even legal, you will have somebody from the MCD who will come and check in on it.
47:14Definitely.
47:15If there was a complaint around, MCD would have definitely taken.
47:19I am not churking away the responsibility.
47:22Let me please say so.
47:24Kakar ji, very much said that the BJP is solely responsible.
47:29Let me just remind her, who gave her license?
47:38Let me just cut the political debate right here.
47:41Okay, this blame game is not, it's not, it's not solving any purpose, not what the time.
47:45I want to go to Dr. Harish Tripathi, principal architect, ARHTA in Delhi.
47:50I want to bring him into this conversation.
47:52Can we just cut the faders down of both the spokespersons?
47:55I want to bring in Dr. Tripathi into this conversation.
47:58Dr. Tripathi, you know, we can go into how each and every building law has been violated in this particular
48:05case, continues to be violated across the city.
48:08But ultimately, I would reckon, it all comes down to corruption.
48:11Everyone looks the other way, if there's enough money on the table.
48:19On the corruption, I think I'm not the right person to talk about.
48:24Of course, we've got to talk. Yeah, go ahead.
48:27I mean, there are enough people to talk about that.
48:29Yes.
48:30But technically, I can tell you that this building, if it was, it was having around 25 rooms and a
48:42restaurant.
48:44So, single entry was a disaster.
48:47There must have been one fire staircase.
48:50And with the fire staircase, we have a fire door, which cannot be opened from outside.
48:55But if people are running in the panic, if they are going out, they will be, they can just run
49:03away.
49:04And at every floor also, we provide the fire door so that smoke from one floor is not going to
49:12travel to other floors.
49:13That is one.
49:14That is one.
49:15Second thing is, all the fire extinguisher system, extinguisher system, then a fire alarm system, and maybe handheld other for
49:27the kitchen and for the electric area, we have different kind of extinguisher system.
49:34So, normally, if this kind of gathering is there, it must be, it must be operational, it must be checked,
49:45every, I mean, all the protocol should have been followed.
49:49Which wasn't cleared.
49:51Which wasn't cleared.
49:51Yeah.
49:52Which was not there.
49:53And when it started, obviously, it started, as we have heard, it started through a short circuit in the basement.
50:02So, then and there itself, it could be, it could be trapped.
50:10What happens, this kind of situation is always there, is there in almost 800 or 700 urban villages that we
50:21have in Delhi.
50:22And not only hotels, residential, and so many things are happening all around.
50:28So, I mean, for me, it's, it may not be a practical thing to shut down everything.
50:36Fair point.
50:36And just look into everything and maybe provide a solution where, whenever there is a fire, I mean, you are
50:47able to…
50:47Fair point, sir.
50:47I want to bring in Mr. Krishnamurthy for one final comment.
50:50Mr. Krishnamurthy, do you see anything come out of this tragedy?
50:57I can't say because, you know, listening to these politicians again, the blame game starts now.
51:02And what the BJP spokesperson said that he had a clearance in 2024.
51:08And if that is so, that will stick in the code of law.
51:11He'll say that, look, I had the license, I had everything, I had the permission to, you know, build another
51:1525 rooms.
51:16So, how can I be held responsible?
51:18All these things will start now.
51:19They are saying that about the MCD.
51:21Who's going to give them a sanction to prosecute them?
51:25That's also…
51:26We have faced that.
51:27To prosecute a government officer, you need a sanction from the authority.
51:31Sanctioning from the, from the authority.
51:33Okay.
51:34So, how are they going to do it?
51:35I don't know.
51:36It's going to be a long-run process.
51:38And I hope the victims have the patience and the perseverance to go to the court.
51:44Because if you want to just leave it to the lawyers, they are not going to, you know, achieve anything.
51:48Fair point, sir.
51:48Fair point.
51:49And sadly, this time around, the victims, most of them are foreigners because they had come…
51:52That's a problem.
51:53Nothing's going to happen.
51:54Yeah, nothing's going to happen.
51:55I hear you on that.
51:56Because they were all foreigners that comes, you know, and that's the irony of it, for medical attention.
52:01Either for themselves or their loved ones.
52:03You'll see another accident after about a month or maybe six months.
52:06Fair point, sir.
52:06I hear you.
52:07People coming here and saying the same thing.
52:09I'm sorry to say.
52:10I hear you, sir.
52:11I appreciate everyone for joining us.
52:14And even the, both the political panelists.
52:16Thank you for taking the time out and joining us this evening.
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