Fires expose compliance laxity

Past weekend’s two major fire tragedies, in Rajkot and Delhi, have destroyed 40 lives with the toll expected to rise as several persons are reportedly missing following the inferno that engulfed the TRP Gaming Zone amusement park in Rajkot. The fire in the Delhi’s Babycare New Born Child Hospital has resulted in death of seven new born babies.

The tragedies bring into sharp focus the state of safety standards nationwide and the urgent need to address issues pertaining to their strict enforcement.

As usual, the reports emanating from the two locations cite infrastructural deficiencies and irregularities in operation and maintenance of the premises as mandated under municipal laws and gross negligence by the authorities. The Rajkot amusement park that witnesses massive footfall on Saturdays is reported to have no fire alarm and no fire exit.

The fire is reported to have been caused by an electrical short circuit. The accused owner of the park did not possess the NOC for operating the gaming facility. The Gujarat High Court which on Sunday took suo motu cognisance of the catastrophe has prima facie termed it ‘a man-made disaster’.

As for the Delhi hospital, the absence of compliances is glaring. The hospital’s licence had expired on March 31 this year. Even the expired licence had allowed only five beds. But it had installed 12 beds. It had no fire exits and bursting oxygen cylinders exacerbated the intensity of the catastrophe.

Neighbours had raised questions over constant refilling of oxygen cylinders at the premises inasmuch as several neighbours had vacated the neighbourhood due to sounds of cylinders. The building had no fire extinguisher. The doctor on duty with a degree in Ayurveda medicines, was not authorised to practice at the facility. Generally, corrupt officials allow all such irregularities to continue. 

While National Building Code has standardised the fire safety norms, laxity in compliance is common. Fire safety and audit are generally given a miss due to inadequate personnel at the Fire Safety Department. The public buildings are mandated to use non-combustible material for construction and take fire retardant measures.

Such premises must seek fire safety clearances which should be issued only after inspection of premises and after satisfying that fire-fighting vehicles have adequate space for circumambulation of the edifice and the place has a dedicated staircase for evacuation.

They are supposed to periodically conduct fire safety and emergency evacuation drills. One wonders if the tragedies would serve as a wakeup call for the authorities to revisit the state of enforcement of fire safety regulations.

One wonders if the tragedies would serve as a wake-up call for the authorities to revisit the state of enforcement of fire safety regulations or it would be business as usual soon after the ordeals shift out of headlines.