The fire broke out at 2 pm at the Rose Garden Entertainment Paradise and within minutes thick black smoke and flames as high 100 feet into the air could be seen from a distance of five kilometre. The fire spread rapidly as there was lot of plastic and hardboard items lying around . More than a dozen fire engines reached the spot within 20 minutes but by then large parts of the complex were completely charred. After two hours and 20 rounds of spraying, the fire was brought under control.
Police sources say, the banquet hall did not have a No Objection Certificate from the fire department. The complex houses sprawling lawns, cinema halls, parks, eateries and banquet hall. It is a popular joint with heavy footfall during the evening when traffic is often blocked. Mayor has formed an investigation committee to see whether NOC was in place and complex had adequate fire exits. The probe team will also check if material used for construction is inflammable.