The CSIR building which went up in flames on Thursday, killing two employees and seriously injuring two others, did not have the necessary fire security measures like emergency lighting, fire pumps and hydrants in working condition.

A senior fire official, on condition of anonymity, said: “The casualties could have been avoided had the fire security system been working. After the fire, the lights were put out and the people trapped had to find their way through the darkness and some were asphyxiated. If the emergency lights and the fire exit had been working, the casualties could have been avoided.”

The Government building also houses the Science and Technology Ministry.

The official also said that the hydrant and the fire pumps were not working. “They had used fire extinguishers, but they alone alone cannot save people’s lives in a fire,” he added.

On July 23, around 7 pm, a fire started on the third floor of the CSIR building and four people had to be rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Of the four victims rushed to the hospital, K B Joshi, a section officer and Satish Kumar, a peon, were both declared dead on arrival.

Police said that they are cannot cite the exact reasons of the fire yet. “A forensic team took samples and will come up with the exact causes,” said Deputy Commisioner of Police, New Delhi, Shankar Das.