Bengaluru, October 31, 2026 — A Lufthansa crew member and an IBM project manager died following suspected electrocution at the swimming pool of the five-star Conrad Bengaluru hotel on Friday evening. Two people were injured trying to rescue them, prompting a police investigation into possible electrical faults and alleged negligence.
BREAKING || 2 Foreign Nationals Die in Bengaluru Hotel Pool – German, Slovak nationals electrocuted at Conrad hotel – U.S National, Indian attendant injured in rescue bid – Case filed after 2 foreigners die at Bengaluru Hotel
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) October 31, 2026
The incident occurred at the hotel’s third-floor swimming pool in Halasuru, central Bengaluru. Police have registered a case following a complaint from a victim’s family member. Investigators are examining whether underwater lighting or another electrical malfunction contributed to the deaths.
Lufthansa Crew Member and IBM Manager Identified as Victims
The deceased were identified as Alexander Maximilian Theiss, 57, a German national working with Lufthansa, and Juraj Horvat, 45, a Slovak national employed as an IBM project manager, according to PTI and NDTV.
Theiss was reportedly staying at the hotel during a Lufthansa crew layover. German newspaper Bild reported that several airline crew members were using the pool after flight LH754 arrived from Frankfurt.
Some reports listed different ages for the victims, but PTI and NDTV identified them as 57 and 45.
American Guest and Hotel Lifeguard Injured During Rescue
Two men were injured while attempting to save the victims:
- Mathew Desantis, 41: An American hotel guest who joined the rescue attempt.
- Rahul Tiwari, 28: An Indian swimming pool attendant and lifeguard.
Both were taken to Manipal Hospital for treatment. Police said their conditions were stable and they were out of danger.
Authorities have not disclosed the full sequence of the rescue or confirmed how the two men sustained their injuries.
Underwater Pool Lights Suspected in Fatal Incident
Investigators are examining the swimming pool’s electrical installations. Bild reported that electricity may have entered the water when underwater lighting was switched on.
However, Bengaluru police have not confirmed that the lighting caused the suspected electrocution. The exact source of any electrical current remains under investigation.
Faulty wiring, underwater lighting and inadequate electrical protection can create serious hazards in swimming pools. Technical inspections will be necessary to determine whether any such failure occurred at the hotel.
FIR Registered After Negligence Complaint
According to India Today, the wife of one of the deceased filed a complaint alleging negligence by hotel management.
Halasuru police subsequently registered a case and inspected the premises. Bengaluru East Deputy Commissioner of Police Vikram Amathe confirmed that an investigation was underway.
Police are expected to examine maintenance records, electrical equipment, witness accounts and other evidence to establish the cause of the deaths.
No final finding of negligence or criminal responsibility has been announced.
Lufthansa Confirms Crew Member’s Death
Lufthansa confirmed that one of its crew members died in an accident during a Bengaluru layover on October 30.
The German airline expressed condolences to the employee’s family and declined to release additional personal details, citing privacy.
German media reported that Lufthansa was considering alternative accommodation for its crews and providing support to affected colleagues.
Conrad Bengaluru Swimming Pool Closed Until November 30
Conrad Bengaluru is a 24-storey luxury hotel operating under Hilton’s Conrad brand.
According to NDTV’s report on the Bengaluru hotel tragedy, the hotel’s website displayed a notice stating that its swimming pool would remain closed for maintenance from October 31 to November 30, 2026.
The hotel had not publicly commented on the incident at the time of that report. The notice did not confirm whether the month-long closure was directly linked to the investigation.
Hotel Pool Safety Raises Wider Concerns
The deaths highlight the importance of electrical inspections and emergency precautions at hotels, particularly around swimming pools where water and electrical equipment operate close together.
Anyone suspecting an electrical hazard in a pool should avoid entering the water, alert emergency services and have trained personnel isolate the power safely.
Other serious emergencies, including the Bronx apartment fire linked to a lithium-ion battery, demonstrate why investigators must establish the technical cause before assigning responsibility.
Similarly, the Savannah River Site laboratory fire emergency highlighted the importance of specialist assessments when hazardous equipment may be involved.
Police Investigation Continues
Investigators have yet to establish whether the deaths resulted from faulty underwater lighting, another electrical failure or a different cause.
Medical findings, technical inspections and witness statements will be central to determining what happened and whether safety procedures were breached.
For the victims’ families, the investigation is expected to provide answers about how two international guests died while using a luxury hotel’s swimming pool.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
