Fire safety negligence

With reference to “Ticking time bomb” (January 2), in June 1997, a major fire broke out inside Uphaar Cinema in Delhi halfway through a movie. The accident claimed the lives of 59 people and over 100 were injured due to suffocation in the ensuing stampede. It took nearly two decades to classify the accident as a deliberate act of violation or an instance of mere negligence. No lessons were learned and the victims were embroiled in prolonged litigation for compensation. Again, in May 2016 a massive fire gutted the National Museum of Natural History in Delhi and led to the loss of several irreplaceable specimens and exhibits in the “accident”. Once again it exposed the cavalier approach to disaster preparedness.

The mishap that took place at Kamala Mills compound in Mumbai is no different. Not only has it put to question the fixing of accountability of owners and official agencies but also triggered a debate on the punishment for those guilty of not taking into serious consideration the enforcement of safety requirements. It is unfortunate that despite non- compliance with construction codes in terms of provisioning of fire extinguishing apparatus, safe evacuation passages and structural integrity of the building, the construction companies succeed in obtaining safety clearances with impunity. It is time the laws were made more stringent and those guilty of blatant violation were prosecuted without leniency. The government should mandate the public display of building fire safety report and bring to book all such officials who exploit the bureaucratic structure to regularise such “death traps”.

Shreyans Jain New Delhi