India, Aug. 17 -- Five people lost their lives in a devastating fire that broke out in a commercial building in Bengaluru's Nagarathpete area on Saturday, prompting authorities to launch a crackdown on illegal constructions in the locality.

City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh confirmed on Sunday that the owners of the two buildings have been arrested after preliminary investigations pointed to gross safety violations. "The Fire Department's initial findings suggest the blaze was triggered by a short circuit. The owners had not followed any safety guidelines and had even constructed additional floors without approval," Singh told ANI.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who visited the spot along with senior officials, squarely...