Three killed, 30 injured as false ceiling collapses in Jaipur hotel

Three guests died and 30 others were injured when the false ceiling of a hotel’s banquet hall collapsed during a pre-wedding function in Jaipur on Wednesday afternoon.

The accident took place at Fortune Park Bellacasa hotel’s Jasmine hall on Tonk Road, where a lunch was being hosted for guests who had come for the engagement ceremony of Surat-based businessman Kushal Tibrewal and Manuja, whose family is from Jaipur and is now based in Mumbai.

Most of the guests had arrived at the Bellacasa from Hotel Marriott, where the ring ceremony was held shortly before the accident.

Guests at the function said there would have been more casualties had the chandelier also fallen. Besides, more guests from the groom’s side were expected but the train they were on had got delayed.

“There were some 70-80 people there when suddenly the roof collapsed…. My father and two of my uncles died of injuries,” said Rajiv Jain, the bride’s uncle. “We don’t know who to blame and whether it was negligence on the part of the hotel management,” Jain, whose family owns the Mumbai-based Prachar Communication advertising agency, said.

An FIR was lodged against the hotel management at Jawahar Circle police station in Malviya Nagar-based on Jain’s complaint.

Jaipur Commissioner of Police Sanjay Agarwal said the hotel premises have been sealed. “Forensic experts have collected samples and we have started investigation whether safety norms were in place,” he said.

Jaipur police have also written to the municipal corporation, seeking a report on the hotel’s record. A query to the Fortune Hotels group by The Indian Express remained unanswered.

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