Revenue official dies of suffocation in fire at Anantara hotel on Nagpur-Amravati highway

A 59-year-old revenue department employee died of suffocation after a fire broke out at the well-known Anantara hotel in Bazargaon, on the Nagpur-Amravati National Highway, on Thursday night (November 13).

The dead man is Manoj Sadashivrao Bande, a resident of Anjangaon Surji in Amravati district. He worked at the Anjangaon Surji tehsil office. One account describes his post as circle officer and another as mandal officer, so the exact designation is not settled.

Bande was travelling from Amravati towards Nagpur. At about 6 pm he stopped at the hotel in Bazargaon and was given room number 208. Late at night the fire flared up without warning and dense smoke filled his room. Preliminary information is that he could not breathe in the smoke and died of suffocation.

Kondhali police reached the spot as soon as they were told. Fire engines were also sent, and firefighters from two fire departments worked for a considerable time before the blaze was brought under control. Police established who the dead man was from the identity documents he was carrying.

What started the fire has not yet been established. Kondhali police are investigating under the guidance of Sumit Parteki, whose surname is also spelt Partaki in one account. He is described as the police inspector and station house officer. Police are also checking whether the hotel had adequate fire safety arrangements, so that such incidents can be prevented in future.

The incident has caused alarm and shock in Bazargaon and the surrounding area. The administration and local residents have expressed deep condolences over the tragedy.