Preliminary reports suspect an electrical leak into the pool from the wiring for the lights inside the pool

Investigators are examining all of the wiring in the pool that may have caused the current to leak into the water in the Conrad pool on the third floor. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Based on a preliminary assessment of the pool on the third floor of the Conrad Hotel after the fatal incident, investigators suspect that electricity was leaked into the pool from the wiring of lights inside the pool.

A short cut

A source said when crime scene officers visited the pool after the incident on Friday night, they could still feel the shock of electricity from the water in the pool. Preliminary suspicions point to a short circuit.

The official said there was some damage to the wiring of the lights, which may have led to a power leak. “Usually the capacity of the lights placed inside the pool is around 2 volts and only 3 volts, but given how two people were killed, we suspect that the voltage of these lights could have been higher,” he said.

Investigators are examining any wiring in the pool that may have caused the current to leak into the water. The functioning of electrical connections and safety mechanisms, including protective devices, is also checked.

Meanwhile, former bureaucrat Gopal B. Hosur, president of the Karnataka Swimming Association, said lighting the pool with lights inside was a common practice and the tragic accident at the Conrad pointed to poor grounding and maintenance by the hotel management. “Many pools are used after dark. Due to the favorable weather in the city, there are several heated pools. Both require electricity in the pools. As water is a good conductor of electricity, care must be taken to ensure strict adherence to all safety protocols and proper maintenance. In this case, clear negligence was found,” he said.

Law on swimming pools

The Karnataka Swimming Association has proposed a model Karnataka Swimming Pools Act to standardize safety measures and quality control in swimming pools across the state. “We have studied swimming pool laws of various countries, adopted best practices and proposed this model law. There is no such law in Karnataka. It is high time our state adopts such a law. The association is willing to work with the Karnataka government on this,” said Mr. Hosur.

The tragic incident at Conrad, which killed two and injured two others on Friday, is the third such incident in Bengaluru in the last four years. A 17-year-old swimmer from Kerala was electrocuted in a school swimming competition in November 2022, and a 9-year-old girl was electrocuted in her apartment pool in December 2023.

Conrad said their pool will be closed from October 31 to November 30 for maintenance. “We apologize for the inconvenience,” the hotel said on its website on Saturday.

Published – 31 Oct 2026 21:26 IST