Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation on Saturday suspended two fire officers for granting a no-objection certificate to the building which was engulfed by a devastating fire here that claimed 22 young lives, hours after the manager of the coaching class where the deceased students were studying was arrested and two others booked for the incident. Municipal Commissioner M Thenarasan told reporters that Surat’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer S.K. Acharya and Fire Officer Kirti Modh were suspended with immediate effect on charges of not taking action against the Takshashila Arcade where Friday’s blaze occurred for violation of fire safety norms.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani stated: “We have constituted an investigation committee, Urban Secretary (Principal Secretary, Urban Development), Mukesh Puri has been asked to file a report based on which we will take action. The manager and builder have been arrested.” Surat Assistant Commissioner of Police P.L. Chaudhari late Saturday evening said the death toll in the incident had risen to 22. He informed reporters that “two teenage girls died today, taking the toll to 22, including 18 girls and four boys.” (IANS)
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