Beyond Carlton signs MoU on comprehensive fire safety

Bengaluru: Beyond Carlton, the country’s first citizen-led initiative on fire safety, has signed an MoU with the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Govt of Odisha, for the preparation of a comprehensive fire safety framework and plan for the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The MoU has been signed with the intention to work on setting “common goals and activities to ensure enhanced fire safety in the identified cities, to develop a strategic vision on fire safety for Odisha and to promote community-based fire safety awareness amongst other objectives.

Over 10,000 people are killed in fire accidents every year in India. The rapid growth of populations in cities across the country, rampant construction of high-rise buildings, increasing commercial utilities, long hours spent in crammed office spaces and public utility buildings has led to an increasing trend of fire incidences in hospitals, market complexes and urban spaces. In times of growing urbanisation, the importance of urban space fire safety has become a key focus for every state disaster management department.

Beyond Carlton, under the leadership of Uday Vijayan, managing trustee and president of BC, has been working tirelessly since its inception in the area of spreading fire safety awareness. Beyond Carlton has been actively collaborating with schools, workspaces and resident welfare associations to conduct training and seminars relevant to fire safety. Beyond Carlton prepared the fire safety blueprint for Bengaluru in consultation with the Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services Department in 2018, which has a five-year roadmap from 2018 to 2022.

“With over 10,000 people dying every year due to fires in India, we believe fire safety is a burning issue. Even though solutions to fire safety are well-known and available, there was the need for a pathway to implementing solutions. Over the years, we have noticed that people are becoming aware about fire-safety norms and rules. However, a lot more needs to be done at various levels with the many stakeholders,” said Uday Vijayan.