MP hotel collapse: CM orders high-level probe

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered a probe by a high-level committee into the collapse of a three-storey hotel here last week in which ten people were killed.

"The chief minister has ordered constitution of a high-level committee to investigate the incident. The committee has been told to complete the probe within seven days," a Public Relations department officer said today.

On CM's direction, the panel has been set up under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary (Home).

Principal Secretary, Urban Development, and Project Director, Public Works Department, will be included as two other members of the committee, he said.

The panel will also submit its report on the situation of other dilapidated buildings in Madhya Pradesh so that such mishaps do not recur in future, the officer said.

Ten people, including two women, were killed when the 60-year-old hotel, which was in a dilapidated condition, crumbed in a congested commercial area near the city bus stand on March 31 night.

Senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia had alleged serious lapses in the rescue operation carried out by the district administration after the collapse.

The police yesterday arrested the hotel owner, Shankar Paryani (55).

The police, the district administration and the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) are separately probing the mishap.