Suspected Electrical Leak Causes Fatalities at Bengaluru Hotel Pool

Two foreign nationals tragically lost their lives, and two others sustained injuries in an incident at a hotel swimming pool in Bengaluru, India. The event unfolded at the Conrad Bengaluru, located in the city’s Halasuru neighborhood, as reported by police on the evening of October 30.

Authorities suspect that an electrical leak may have been the cause, yet definitive conclusions await further medical, technical, and expert evaluations. The pool area has been secured for investigation, according to Bengaluru’s Police Commissioner, Seemant Kumar Singh.

Fox News Digital reported reaching out to Hilton Worldwide Holdings, the owner of Conrad Hotels, for more information. The deceased individuals were identified as Alexander Maximilian Theiss, a 57-year-old German national and Lufthansa crew member, and Juraj Horvat, a 45-year-old Slovak citizen employed as a project manager for IBM. Both were hotel guests at the time of the incident.

Among the injured were Mathew Desantis, a 41-year-old American guest, and Rahul Tiwari, a 28-year-old pool attendant and lifeguard. Both attempted to assist during the emergency. The hospital stated that four people were brought to Manipal Hospital following the accident. Theiss was deceased upon arrival, while Horvat passed away despite medical efforts to resuscitate him.

Lufthansa confirmed with deep regret the death of their crew member during a layover in Bengaluru. They expressed condolences to the family, relatives, and friends and requested privacy regarding further details.

Desantis recovered steadily from a headache and shock, while Tiwari was stable yet experiencing pain. Further assessments for possible fractures were planned, as per The Times of India.

Theiss’ wife registered a complaint, claiming that the victims were shocked trying to exit the pool, leading to drowning. The hotel’s statement on NDTV expressed sorrow and affirmed cooperation with authorities, with no established cause yet.

A joint investigation is evaluating technical aspects like pool pump mechanics and underwater lighting systems. The initial inspection hinted at the lighting system as a potential fault source, noted The Times of India. As per NDTV, the hotel scheduled maintenance closure for the pool from October 31 to November 30, though it remains unclear if this decision is linked to the incident.