Maharashtra Tourist Dies, Two Injured in Shimla Hotel Fire
Shimla, March 1 — A raging fire late Friday night gutted the Rama Bed and Breakfast Hotel in the Kachighati area in Shimla leading to the death of a 24-year-old tourist hailing from Maharashtra and leaving two others seriously injured. The loss from the fire that gutted three rooms of the hotel was said to be in lakhs of rupees.
The blaze broke out at around 11:30 pm, with the victims, all three young tourists hailing from Maharashtra, being caught unaware. The victim, identified as Ritesh Pudale, was from Koregaon in Maharashtra’s Sangli district. His companions — Ashish Patil and Avdhoot Patil — also caught fire but managed to escape, suffering burns. The injured pair were immediately rushed to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Hospital, where condition of both is stable.
As per the reports, the three friends came to Shimla earlier in the day and took room number 106 at the hotel. An unexpected blaze erupted in their room while they were sound asleep. The fireball erupted all of a sudden, causing panic across the hotel. Guests scurried to escape, but Ritesh was trapped when the flame raged in. As firefighters contained the fire, they found Ritesh dead inside the room.
The alarm was raised in the fire department and six fire engines were sent from different stations, including four from Baluganj and two from other stations. Firefighters finally brought the flames under control after burning for several hours. But by the time the fire was under control, three hotel rooms were completely gutted.
Hotel management has been blamed for negligence regarding proper fire safety measures. The police have booked hotel owner Manoj Sharma under sections 125 and 106 of the Indian Penal Code for negligence and noncompliance with safety measures after a formal complaint was filed by Ashish Patil. Authorities are examining whether the fire was triggered by a fault in the hotel’s electrical systems or other lapses in safety standards.
Shimla police have also informed Ritesh Pudale’s family regarding the tragic incident. His body will be released to them following post-mortem formalities. Police are now interviewing hotel staff, as well as reviewing the hotel’s safety measures, including fire exits and alarms, as part of the investigation.
Such a grisly incident has raised serious questions regarding the fire fighting arrangements and safety measures in private hotels, especially in tourist places like Shimla. The local government is likely to enforce even stricter compliance to safety protocols as establishments, particularly those that service tourists, will need to be cognizant of taking the necessary precautions to avoid tragedies like this one.
The death toll and the injuries sustained by the two other tourists have cast the community into shock and mourning. However, the investigation is ongoing and authorities are determined to find out who was responsible for the blaze and to bring them to justice.
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