5 staffers dead as fire breaks out in B'luru bar

Fire, from Page 1

All five died of asphyxiation, the police suspect. The post mortem was conducted at Victoria Hospital and the reports are awaited.
Criminal negligence
Kalasipalyam police have registered a case of criminal negligence and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
"We have booked the bar owner and licence holder. We are checking if the bar was sublet and will fix culpability," said city police commissioner T Suneel Kumar.
He has ordered an inquiry and expects a report within four days.
The building is 70 years old, and the Class 9 excise licence holder has been identified as V R Dayashankar, whom the police learnt was a paralytic.
The bar was run by his brother Prakash and Somashekar, who holds stakes in the business.
Rs 5 lakh each
Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and Bengaluru development minister K J George visited Victoria Hospital and announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the families of each of the victims.

4 booked, 2 held
The Kalasipalayam police arrested two persons, V R Prakash (60), elder brother of the licence holder V R Dayanshankar and Somashekar (59), a resident of Magadi Road and manager of Kailash bar on Monday.
The police have slapped charges of criminal negligence for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under IPC section 304 on four suspects, including the licence holder and the building owner.
"A team each from the FSL, Electrical Inspectorate and Fire Services inspected the spot and will submit their reports," said DCP West Division M N Anucheth.

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What caused the fire?
Among the devices inside were a fridge, digital video recorder connected to CCTV cameras, and a UPS with batteries.
The police suspect the fire was caused by a short circuit.
The Electrical Inspectorate and experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory will investigate the cause of the fire, police said.