Zirakpur: Banquet hall owners booked for endangering lives of visitors

The police have booked the owners and management of “Aura Garden” and “Sekhon Palace” for endangering the lives of hundreds of visitors. A fire broke out at one of the banquet halls and soon engulfed the other in Zirakpur during a wedding party around 10:30 pm on last night.

The police said a lot of firecrackers were burst in the area and the fire could have been triggered by a stray firecracker. They have not ruled out a cylinder blast or fire in the kitchen area of the banquet halls t.

No fire safety arrangements mandatory for such big public functions were found at the spot. Various other irregularities were also found there. Senior administration officials and departments concerned are probing the incident. Necessary permissions and fire NOCs have been sought from the banquet hall owners, they said.

The fire broke out at "Sekhon Palace" on the Zirakpur-Panchkula road and spread to the adjoining "Aura Garden". “Pandals” (wedding set-up) erected at both palaces were destroyed.

However, no loss of life was reported as people were evacuated in time. Eight fire tenders from Zirakpur, Panchkula and Mohali were rushed to the spot.