Bhubaneswar: Four members of city-based businessman and Pal Heights group hotels owner Satpal Singh’s family were burnt to death in a fire at his house in Budheswari Colony at upscale Laxmisagar area Thursday. A housemaid also died. Seriously injured Satpal Singh has been admitted to Capital Hospital with serious burn injuries but was stated in the evening to be out of danger. The deceased were Satpal’s son Gagan Pal Singh (39), daughter-in-law Bhabana (38), granddaughter Suhavi (12), grandson Ruveer (4) and housemaid Khushi Das (15). All of the deceased were sleeping on the second floor rooms of the tastefully crafted bungalow.
The incident took place around 4 in the morning. Some early-risers in the locality saw smoke emanating from the house. They immediately informed the police as also the fire brigade.
Fire Brigade and police teams reached the spot soon; the cops being the first to arrive. Short circuit is a suspected cause of the mishap.
However, police said they were investigating all sides of the mishap and would not say more on the mishap. Assistant fire officer Rohit Kumar said, “From initial investigations, it can be inferred that the fire was caused by a short-circuit in the temple room near the staircase on the first floor. The fire quickly spread to the second floor. The first floor was not affected much but the second floor was totally damaged and gutted as it had a false ceiling that caught fire in a jiffy.”
Deputy fire officer RC Majhi also said that, prima facie, short circuit seems to be the cause. Police commissioner YB Khurania said the police would wait for post mortem report.
The upscale Pal Heights enclave is a haunt of the city’s elite. It includes hotels, shopping malls, clubs and restaurants, all of which remained closed for the day. Singh also owns Pal Heights Mantra.
“We have shut down operations for the day but things will be as usual from tomorrow,” said Sanjay Samal, security supervisor at Hotel Pal Heights.
Pal Heights was started in 2008.
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