Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, May 4: Two persons, including a hotel Manager, died while five others were injured after a newly-constructed hotel in Sanasar area here caught fire in the wee hours today, officials said.
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While Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh and Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, have expressed grief over the loss of lives and assured to provide all possible assistance to the injured families, DC Ramban, Mussarat Islam, has also ordered a magisterial probe to ascertain the cause of the mysterious fire.
ADC Ramban, Harbans Lal Sharma, who has been appointed as the inquiry officer, will investigate whether the building ravaged by the fire had proper fire extinguishers, building permission was obtained, or whether there was any short-circuit in the building.
He will also find out whether the fire erupted due to an LPG explosion in the building and submit a detailed report to DC Ramban in 7 days by May 11, 2023.
A case under relevant Sections of the law has also been registered at the concerned Police Station on the direction of the DC Ramban.
According to one of the injured fire victims, Vicky Kumar (18) son of Nand Lal of Sanasar, who was discharged after preliminary treatment at Community Health Centre (CHC) Sanasar, the fire erupted in Hotel Maa Shanti around 3 am today when the hotel staff was asleep.
After an alarm was raised, he said, locals gathered at the spot and rang-up the District Administration for help.
Around one hour after the fire erupted in the hotel, he said, fire tenders from Kud and Batote were rushed to the spot to contain the flames but by then two people, including the Manager of the hotel, were charred to death, and five persons were injured.
While the deceased manager has been identified as Raman Sadhotra son of Ram Dass of Samba and the other deceased has been identified as Surinder Kumar son of Jagdish Kumar of Sudhmahadev, Chennani.
The bodies of the deceased have been handed over to their legal heirs after performing the medico-legal formalities at the CHC Sanasar.
Police identified the injured as Varinder Singh (waiter), 20, son of Sudesh Kumar of Marathiz, Chenani, Amit Sharma (cook), 22/23, son of Dwarka Lal of Marmat, Doda, Anil Kumar (cook), 26, son of Bansi Lal of Marmat, Doda, Kishore Kumar (taxi driver), 40, son of Sita Ram of Shiv Khori, Reasi, and Vicky Kumar (waiter), 18, son of Nand Lal of Sanasar.
Of the five injured, four have been referred to the Government Medical College Jammu for advanced treatment while one of them, Vicky Kumar, was discharged after preliminary treatment at CHC Sanasar.
Sources said that after the fire incident, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mussarat Islam accompanied by SSP Ramban Mohita Sharma, ADC Ramban, Harbans Lal, and Tehsildar Batote, Vijay Kumar along with other civil and police officers inspected the fire ravaged hotel and took stock of the damages.
Later, the DC Ramban ordered an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the death.
As per an order issued by DC Ramban, Mussarat Islam, Harbans Lal Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ramban, has been appointed as the inquiry officer to look into the fire incident that occurred in Hotel Maa Shanti, Ramban.
The order said that the inquiry officer shall be assisted by Vijay Kumar, Tehsildar (Executive Magistrate, Ist Class) Batote, and Shail Bandral, Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Ramban.
“The inquiry officer shall investigate all aspects that lead to the fire incident in the Hotel Maa Shanti and submit his report/findings along with recommendations by May 11, 2023 positively,” read the order issued by DC Ramban.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State (MoS) in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Dr Jitendra Singh and LG Manoj Sinha have expressed condolences with the bereaved families and assured to provide all possible medical assistance to those injured in the fire incident.
In a tweet, Dr Jitendra Singh wrote, “learnt about unfortunate fire incident at a hotel in Sanasar area of district #Ramban, in which two persons died and 5 injured. I’m in touch with DC, Mussarat Islam. All possible help being provided to the injured who are being shifted out for better medical care. Further assistance also be provided as required. My condolences with the bereaved families (sic).”
In an official handout, LG Manoj Sinha also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the fire incident and conveyed his condolences and sympathies to the kin of those who died in the accident and the injured.
“Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire incident at a hotel in Sanasar. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured (sic),” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also said in the official handout that he has spoken to Deputy Commissioner Ramban and directed him to render all assistance to the kin of the victims.
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