<p>A primary investigation into the Surat fire incident, in which 22 students were killed, has revealed gross negligence of norms of building construction and fire safety.</p>.<p>It has been found that not only the top floor of the building was illegally constructed but a staircase, which could have saved many lives, had been blocked. </p>.<p>Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Mukesh Puri submitted his primary report to the government.</p>.<p>Sharing his findings, Puri told reporters that although probe is on to ascertain the reason that caused the fire, it has been found that there was spark in the outdoor air conditioning (AC) system installed at first or second floor of Takshila Arcade which caused the fire.</p>.<p>He said that it seems that a vertical display panel for advertisement caught fire due to the spark in the outdoor AC. The fire immediately spread as there were several flex banners advertising about coaching classes among others in the vicinity.</p>.<p>In a couple of minutes, the fire reached the third and fourth floors. In the incident, 22 students were killed while 15 are undergoing treatment. Puri said that two of the injured are critical.</p>.<p>He said that the coaching centre, running on the fourth floor, had a dome structure which was barely 7 feet high. There was a tin shade, false ceiling and divided into several small cubicles. Since the ceiling was too low, decorated tyres were used for sitting instead of chairs.</p>.<p>The fire first spread in meter room and people who were on second and third floors used a 5 feet wide RCC staircase to escape.</p>.<p>On the fourth floor, the staircase was barely 3 to 3.5 feet wide which was covered with woods. According to Puri's observation, the death toll increased since the other staircase was completely blocked from the top floor.</p>.<p>Puri said that "We found that blocked staircase which was closed. It amounts to criminal activity. Had it been opened, most of the victims would have survived."</p>.<p>He also said that the fourth floor was illegal. The builders had the approval to construct only three floors, also it was found that the municipal engineer who was supposed to conduct a physical inspection of the construction didn't visit the site.</p>.<p>The records also revealed that construction of the fourth floor had not been sought by the builders.</p>.<p>Coaching-centre owner Bhargav Bhutani, two builders Harsukh and Jignesh have been arrested. On Sunday, the municipal corporation filed a separate FIR against four persons.</p>.<p>On the other hand, Congress leader Hardik Patel was detained by Surat police early on Monday noon while he was on his way to protest against the government officials. He was kept in detention for more than seven hours.</p>
<p>A primary investigation into the Surat fire incident, in which 22 students were killed, has revealed gross negligence of norms of building construction and fire safety.</p>.<p>It has been found that not only the top floor of the building was illegally constructed but a staircase, which could have saved many lives, had been blocked. </p>.<p>Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Mukesh Puri submitted his primary report to the government.</p>.<p>Sharing his findings, Puri told reporters that although probe is on to ascertain the reason that caused the fire, it has been found that there was spark in the outdoor air conditioning (AC) system installed at first or second floor of Takshila Arcade which caused the fire.</p>.<p>He said that it seems that a vertical display panel for advertisement caught fire due to the spark in the outdoor AC. The fire immediately spread as there were several flex banners advertising about coaching classes among others in the vicinity.</p>.<p>In a couple of minutes, the fire reached the third and fourth floors. In the incident, 22 students were killed while 15 are undergoing treatment. Puri said that two of the injured are critical.</p>.<p>He said that the coaching centre, running on the fourth floor, had a dome structure which was barely 7 feet high. There was a tin shade, false ceiling and divided into several small cubicles. Since the ceiling was too low, decorated tyres were used for sitting instead of chairs.</p>.<p>The fire first spread in meter room and people who were on second and third floors used a 5 feet wide RCC staircase to escape.</p>.<p>On the fourth floor, the staircase was barely 3 to 3.5 feet wide which was covered with woods. According to Puri's observation, the death toll increased since the other staircase was completely blocked from the top floor.</p>.<p>Puri said that "We found that blocked staircase which was closed. It amounts to criminal activity. Had it been opened, most of the victims would have survived."</p>.<p>He also said that the fourth floor was illegal. The builders had the approval to construct only three floors, also it was found that the municipal engineer who was supposed to conduct a physical inspection of the construction didn't visit the site.</p>.<p>The records also revealed that construction of the fourth floor had not been sought by the builders.</p>.<p>Coaching-centre owner Bhargav Bhutani, two builders Harsukh and Jignesh have been arrested. On Sunday, the municipal corporation filed a separate FIR against four persons.</p>.<p>On the other hand, Congress leader Hardik Patel was detained by Surat police early on Monday noon while he was on his way to protest against the government officials. He was kept in detention for more than seven hours.</p>
