A day after a fire at Kailash Bar in Kalasipalya claimed five lives, police wrote to the various departments concerned about violations, if any, by the licence holder of the establishment.
DCP West M.N. Anucheth said they were awaiting replies from the BBMP, Bescom, Labour, Excise Department, Commercial Taxes Department and Health Safety Department of the BBMP.
The Kumbaara Sangha, which owns the building where the shop was located, has issues notices to all the shop-owners in the complex, asking them to ensure fire safety measures, said association joint secretary N. Nagesh. “We have given them five days to install fire extinguishers. If they don’t comply, we will buy it on their behalf and deduct the cost from their rent,” he said. The association is also ensuring that old wires are replaced, apart from asking all shop-owners not to store any goods blocking exhaust vents.
Civic body officials said they will be able to act on bars flouting norms only after the police give a report, said Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad. “There are no inspection from our end at this point in time,” he told The Hindu .
Police have booked cases against four people, including the Kumbaara Sangha management. A criminal case has been registered in Kalasipalya police station under Section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC against V.R. Dayashankar, 58, who holds the licence for the bar; Prakash, 60, partner in the bar; Somashekar, 59, manager; and Kumbaara Sangha Management (building owner). Prakash and Somashekar have been arrested.
