Preliminary investigations into the massive fire and subsequent LPG cylinder explosion at a guest house-cum-resort in Bhauri on Monday night have revealed that the establishment was being operated without a mandatory fire safety audit. Fire officials stated that the lack of safety protocols posed a severe risk to the lives of guests attending a wedding reception at the venue. BMC Fire Officer Saurabh Patel confirmed that a specialised team has been constituted to conduct a thorough probe into the incident. Authorities have indicated that strict legal action will be initiated against the management for operating without valid certification and violating fire safety norms. The incident occurred at approximately 10 pm during a peak moment of the wedding celebrations.

 

Witnesses reported that a short circuit initially triggered the blaze, which quickly spread through the premises. As guests began to flee in panic, an LPG cylinder stored on-site exploded with tremendous force. The impact of the blast was so intense that the sound was heard several kilometres away, with flames shooting nearly 50 feet into the air. The explosion caused widespread chaos as attendees scrambled for cover to escape the heat and debris. Emergency response and containment: Three fire tenders were dispatched from Gandhinagar, Bairagarh, and Fatehgarh fire stations. Fire-fighters managed to contain the main blaze within an hour, though cooling operations continued late into the night. JCB machines were brought in to clear the charred remains and secure the damaged structural portions of the resort.