Lives put at risk as fire safety norms violated
Delhi received 1,092 complaints of fire in 2015 and 1,032 in 2016. This means more than three cases of fire every day – an unprecedented number for any city.
Like Wednesday’s fire at a factory in Anand Parbat Industrial Area, many blasts were triggered by inflammable material stored illegally in buildings. Sometimes the buildings, built on weak foundation, came crumbling down even with a minor fire, putting the lives of firefighters in danger.
In the Anand Parbat factory case, police sources said, a cooking gas cylinder was being illegally used in the factory for welding work. “This gas cylinder exploded apparently due to leakage and heat,” a police officer said.
“We will question the factory owners and other workers to find out what exactly led to the mis- he said.
Two firemen from Delhi Fire Services (DFS) were killed while two others were critically injured in a cylinder blast at a restaurant at West Delhi’s Vikaspuri in February. The firemen were trying to break the shutter of the locked restaurant. While they were trying to pull the shutter up, a gas cylinder inside the shop went off, injuring them.
A senior fire official said that the building did not have a no-objection certificate. Also, there were no emergency firefighting equipment.
The Delhi Fire Safety Rules states that any structural change in the building needs to be approved by the fire department. But only 10% people come back for regular approvals while they keep extending their boundaries without flouting fire norms, the report said.
Even industrial areas, which are built on conformed land with proper building plans, tend to deviate once they receive the approval certificates to operate. The electrical heater-manufacturing unit at Anand Parbat had tin shed on the second floor, which collapsed when a sushap,” pected short circuit led to fire and a blast in a gas cylinder. The hot tin shed collapsed along with a portion of the roof, falling over five people including three firefighters. One succumbed to his injuries on Thursday noon.
The industrial guidelines for fire safety say that there should be an alternative exit at the back of every factory building. Apart from this, the entrance to the terrace should also be kept open at all times so that occupants can be rescued in case of a mishap.
However, in this case the only entry to the building was narrow leading to delay in rescue operation, said a fire official.
A senior official of the corporation said, “Over 30% accidents can be prevented if people follow norms. Every time, one extends a portion of a building they need to get approval from corporation. In case of major altercation, additional staircases need to be built.”
“Despite repeated orders to factory owners and market associations the exit points are not cleared,” said a fire official.
Over 80% markets in Delhi are structurally unsafe and prone to fires according to an internal audit of the Delhi Fire Services. HT had earlier spoken to multiple firemen, after the incident in Vikaspuri, to find out what kind of protective gear the officers on the frontlines are equipped with.
Though critics said many of the 3,299 people affiliated with the Delhi Fire Services, who may be dispatched to the spot, are not provided with individual protective gear, officials with the department said all the officers are provided with basic personal gear such as helmets, fire repellent dungarees, gumboots, and breathing operators.