PRAYAGRAJ: The major blaze at the Rajkot game zone that claimed lives of more than two dozen people in Gujarat, has come as an eye-opener for the police, fire and district authorities. The fire department has launched a 12-day special fire safety audit at commercial buildings and multiplex.
Chief Fire Officer (Prayagraj) RK Pandey told TOI that department has roped in as many as 10 teams including two each in Civil Lines and Naini and one each team at Handia, Meja, Phulpur, Soraon, Koraon, and Bara.
He added, “These teams will be checking fire fighting arrangements at around 400 buildings including hotels, hospitals, commercial establishments and malls from May 26 to June 6. The officials have also asked owners and management of buildings to improve fire safety apparatus or notices will be served them after June 6.
The department has also closed a gaming zone at a multiplex in Civil Lines after finding inadequate fire fighting arrangements during fire audit on Monday night. “Officials have asked to change old and rotten electric wiring, and outdated fire fighting equipments while carrying out checks at some commercial establishment in city,” said CFO adding “ The majority of owners of commercial establishments in the city including those located at prime localities like Civil Lines, Chowk, Ghantaghar, Katra have no idea about electric safety audits.”
Officials are also checking whether commercial establishments in the city have obtained NOC ( No Objection Certificate) from the Electrical safety directorate or not and take actions accordingly. However, officials of the fire department, taking a cue from the Rajkot game zone inferno, have advised traders of different commercial establishments and management of multiplex in the city to opt for electric safety audit from electrical safety directorate at the earliest.
Fire department officials have also advised traders to go for new wiring as old wiring is unable to bear increased load and often cause short circuit. Pandey, meanwhile, said, “Management of hospitals, hotels and big commercial establishments have also been directed to install advanced and latest fire safety systems in their establishments. A four point safety guideline has also issued appealing authorities concerned to ensure that clearance should be maintained on exit routes and each and every shop owner should install firefighting arrangements. Besides, traders should switch off all electric appliances before pulling down their shutters. A recent survey conducted by the department has revealed that more than 60% shops in the city neither have adequate fire-fighting arrangements nor people know about the steps that should be taken in case of a fire. Officials of fire department, meanwhile, said, “Fire officials have been regularly advising people to install advanced firefighting arrangements, especially a well-planned escape route.” Commercial complexes must have required number of fire extinguishers, first aid hose reel, terrace tank and terrace pump.
The arrangements should be accordingly enhanced if the size and shape of a commercial shop is plus one or two-storied building or more.
