DC Edit | Ignoring fire safety norms is proving very costly for India
10 months ago

DC Edit | Ignoring fire safety norms is proving very costly for India

Deccan Chronicle  

The loss of 40 lives, mostly infants and young children, in two fire incidents in two parts of the country on consecutive days could be passed off as accidents but even a cursory look at the reports on them would reveal a pattern in them: a pattern of greedy businessmen ignoring the mandates of the law on people’s safety and the total negligence on the part of the agencies concerned to enforce laws that are made to protect human lives and prevent loss of property. The authorities, who failed to institute a mechanism to ensure that institutions and business establishments regularly renew their licences after meeting the requirements of the law, which invariably include fire safety norms, are also to blame for the death of the innocent children. Aspects of fire safety have not been given it due in India despite the surge in population and in the fire incidents. India is at present the fifth largest economy in the world and is on its way to become the third and hence it must introduce safety norms of global standards and ensure their strict enforcement.

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History of this topic

INTERVIEW | Fire safety: big population, marginal awareness; much needs to be done; can’t depend on ‘luck'
1 month, 1 week ago

INTERVIEW | Fire safety: big population, marginal awareness; much needs to be done; can’t depend on ‘luck'

New Indian Express  

Exactly 15 years ago on this day, Bengaluru witnessed a horrific incident: the Carlton Towers fire tragedy that claimed nine lives. The families that lost their loved ones came together and formed ‘Beyond Carlton’, an organisation committed to reducing fire accidents through education and advocacy. Its Managing Trustee and President Uday Vijayan, whose son was one of the nine casualties, …

‘Fire safety norms have been blatantly violated’
3 months, 4 weeks ago

‘Fire safety norms have been blatantly violated’

New Indian Express  

KOCHI: It was in 2019 that a massive fire broke out at the office-cum godown of a well-known stationery dealer shop at Kalathiparampu near Ernakulam South railway station. An inspection by a special fire force squad had then found ‘serious lapses’ on the part of the owner in adhering to mandatory fire safety norms. Five years down the lane, another …

10 newborns killed in massive fire at hospital in India
4 months, 2 weeks ago

10 newborns killed in massive fire at hospital in India

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At least 10 newborn babies …

Kuwait labour camp fire sparks safety concerns in Kerala
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Kuwait labour camp fire sparks safety concerns in Kerala

The Hindu  

The recent fire accident at a labour camp in Kuwait which claimed several lives has served as a stark wake-up call for Kerala. The tragedy has highlighted the alarming fact that many large buildings in Kerala still lack adequate fire safety systems, despite existing regulations. Shilparaj, numerous buildings across Kerala have not installed the mandated fire safety systems. This is …

Health ministry directs strict compliance with fire safety norms at hospitals
9 months, 4 weeks ago

Health ministry directs strict compliance with fire safety norms at hospitals

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Union health ministry on Monday directed states and union territories to make sure that hospitals follow regulatory protocols and fire safety norms after fire in a Delhi day care centre killed seven newborns. Coordination advised “States/UTs and medical institutes have been advised to ensure better coordination with PWDs and local fire departments, so that fire safety NOC …

Insidious, incendiary: On the negligence of fire safety in India
10 months ago

Insidious, incendiary: On the negligence of fire safety in India

The Hindu  

The devastating fires, at a gaming centre in Rajkot, Gujarat and a newborn nursing clinic in Delhi within 24 hours of each other, which left over 30 dead, is another grim reminder of one of India’s insidious threats: the pervasive nature of the negligence of the fire safety of buildings by a whole range of stakeholders — from builders and …

Fire at Delhi hospital, Rajkot game zone: What are safety rules in India, compliance challenges? | Explained
10 months ago

Fire at Delhi hospital, Rajkot game zone: What are safety rules in India, compliance challenges? | Explained

India TV News  

Fire at Delhi hospital, Rajkot game zone: The recent devastating fire incidents at a gaming zone in Gujarat's Rajkot and a children's hospital in Delhi, claiming at least 30 lives cumulatively, have served as stark reminders of the critical importance of fire safety regulations. 19 per cent were unsure if their fire extinguishing systems worked 27 per cent admitted to …

Wake-up call for fire safety from Gujarat’s horror holiday
10 months ago

Wake-up call for fire safety from Gujarat’s horror holiday

New Indian Express  

Weekend amusement at a gaming arcade in Gujarat’s Rajkot went horribly wrong as at least 28 holidayers, including nine children, were charred to death in a sudden blaze. The holiday crowd got trapped as basic fire safety protocols like adequate extinguishers, emergency exits, and trained personnel for quick evacuation appeared to be missing in the sprawling TRP game zone. The …

Curb accidents at firecracker units, ex-minister tells CM Stalin
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Curb accidents at firecracker units, ex-minister tells CM Stalin

New Indian Express  

MADURAI: AIADMK ex-minister RB Udhayakumar urged the state government, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, to concentrate on controlling the fatal accidents at firework units as the total death toll due to such mishaps has increased to 28 in five months in Virudhunagar district in 2024. In a press note, Udhayakumar stated that the deaths at firecracker units were primarily …

Telangana: Disaster response dept creates awareness on fire safety precautions
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Telangana: Disaster response dept creates awareness on fire safety precautions

New Indian Express  

HYDERABAD: Amidst rising mercury levels, the state has been witnessing a surge in serious fires in industries, storage godowns and commercial outlets this year. Stressing on the importance of fire safety precautions, the Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services pointed out that fire accidents can be prevented if proper fire safety precautions are followed. To create more awareness about …

AP tops in modernisation of fire services: Vanitha
1 year, 4 months ago

AP tops in modernisation of fire services: Vanitha

Deccan Chronicle  

Vijayawada: Home and disaster management minister Taneti Vanitha has said Andhra Pradesh state disaster response and fire service department is at the top among states, in terms of modernization of the fire services. Vigilance and enforcement director general and fire service gazette notification committee chairman, Ravisankar Ayyannar, submitted a report to the minister. On the lines of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, …

As fire accidents soar, it is back to safety basics
1 year, 4 months ago

As fire accidents soar, it is back to safety basics

The Hindu  

A dangerous 12% annual spike in fire accidents in Bengaluru has shifted the spotlight back on the need for stringent enforcement of fire safety regulations. Fire safety rules were amended and re-inspection of high-rises mandated following a Public Interest Litigation filed by Beyond Carlton, a city-based collective and Namma Bengaluru Foundation in 2011. It is just a sham, more of …

Fire safety week begins in Andhra Pradesh
1 year, 11 months ago

Fire safety week begins in Andhra Pradesh

Deccan Chronicle  

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh state disaster response and fire service department has started its Fire Service Week from April 14 to 20, with the theme ‘Awareness in fire safety for growth of national infrastructure ’ on Friday. On Saturday, they will take up demonstrations on fire safety at public places like bus stands, railway stations, malls, markets, cinema theaters and …

Playing with fire, risking lives
2 years, 2 months ago

Playing with fire, risking lives

The Hindu  

Accidental fires have become commonplace in the city, often fatal, as witnessed from three massive fire mishaps in less than a year’s time. At a time when every concrete structure enclosing electric circuits, and inflammable material should be essentially looked upon as a potential fire hazard, there is utter disregard for even minimal fire safety precautions such as availability of …

DC Edit | Make maintenance, safety a top priority across India
2 years, 5 months ago

DC Edit | Make maintenance, safety a top priority across India

Deccan Chronicle  

If one person dies in an accident that could have been prevented, it is one life lost too many. The best of buildings will have leaking faucets, fire safety devices which don’t work, standard safety instructions being flouted with impunity and indifference, and never do people stand up against it — not till it results in a consequential tragedy. Lifts …

Delhi fire: No regard for laws, safety norms
2 years, 10 months ago

Delhi fire: No regard for laws, safety norms

Hindustan Times  

On Sunday, Delhi Police arrested Manish Lakra, the owner of the commercial building in west Delhi that caught fire on Friday evening, killing at least 27 people and injuring 17 others. The initial probe shows that the accident was waiting to happen because the owner and the tenant did not comply with mandatory safety requirements: The building plan was not …

Mundka Building 'Didn't Have Fire Dept's Clearance'. These Safety Plans Save Lives & Are 'Hardly Followed'
2 years, 10 months ago

Mundka Building 'Didn't Have Fire Dept's Clearance'. These Safety Plans Save Lives & Are 'Hardly Followed'

News 18  

Tragedies continue to unfold in Delhi’s Mundka, after a horrific blaze in a multistoried commercial building killed 27 people and injured 12 others. Atul Garg, director of Delhi Fire Services told the Associated Press the building had no clearance from the fire department and it was not equipped with fire safety equipment like extinguishers. Bureaucratic dysfunction in fire safety is …

India police arrest two after deadly building fire in New Delhi
2 years, 10 months ago

India police arrest two after deadly building fire in New Delhi

Al Jazeera  

Two people suspected of flouting fire safety rules arrested in connection with the massive fire in a four-storey commercial building in the Indian capital. Police have arrested two people in connection with a massive fire in a four-storey commercial building in the Indian capital, that left at least 27 people dead, police and fire officials have said. Twelve more were …

The perilous state of fire safety in Maharashtra's hospitals
3 years, 10 months ago

The perilous state of fire safety in Maharashtra's hospitals

India Today  

Between January 20 and April 28, as many as 40 people have died in four of Maharashtra’s hospitals as a result of fires. At the time, state health minister Rajesh Tope had said that fire safety audits had been completed in 323 of the 567 hospitals that the state government is responsible for. The state’s fire services department has proposed …

Explained | What has led to a spate of hospital fires, and why aren’t governments strictly following regulations?
3 years, 10 months ago

Explained | What has led to a spate of hospital fires, and why aren’t governments strictly following regulations?

The Hindu  

The story so far: Fires occur in many public buildings in India every year, killing a large number of people and injuring many. The Union Home Ministry’s Directorate-General for Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards says on its website that the National Building Code, published by the Bureau of Indian Standards, is a “recommendatory document”, and States have been …

Does India have adequate fire safety regulations for public buildings? | The Hindu In Focus Podcast
3 years, 10 months ago

Does India have adequate fire safety regulations for public buildings? | The Hindu In Focus Podcast

The Hindu  

In this episode we’re discussing fire safety rules in public buildings, including hospitals. The National Crime Records Bureau says 330 people died in commercial building fires in 2019, while fatalities for residential or dwelling buildings were much higher at 6,329. Electrical faults are cited as the leading cause of fires, but State governments are also widely criticised for being lax …

Fire safety campaigns conducted ahead of Deepavali
4 years, 4 months ago

Fire safety campaigns conducted ahead of Deepavali

The Hindu  

The personnel of Tamilnadu Fire and Rescue Services Department will conduct awareness camps for school students in the city, through online classes, in order to ensure a fire-accident free Deepavali this time. N. Priya Ravichandran, Joint Director of the TNFRS, said, “We are conducting various awareness programmes to promote safe fire practices and to prevent the occurrence of fire accidents …

Preparing for fires
5 years, 2 months ago

Preparing for fires

The Hindu  

India saw at least three major fire accidents in 2019. Despite major fires in the past, flagrant violations of building and fire safety norms continue unabated and fire accidents take place with alarming regularity. Past incidents show that most fire accidents take place due to three major reasons: electrical short circuit and gas cyclinder/stove bursts, human negligence, and ill-formed habits. …

Delhi govt orders fire safety audit for coaching centres in city
5 years, 10 months ago

Delhi govt orders fire safety audit for coaching centres in city

India TV News  

To avert Surat-like fire tragedy in which at least 22 students were killed, the Delhi government on Monday directed the fire department officials to investigate the fire safety norms at all the coaching centres operating in high rise buildings across the city. As per the latest reports, all the coaching centres operating in high rise buildings will be inspected by …

Ludhiana fire tragedy: How factory owner’s ‘apprehension’ claimed four lives
6 years, 5 months ago

Ludhiana fire tragedy: How factory owner’s ‘apprehension’ claimed four lives

Hindustan Times  

Panic gripped the streets of Kalyan Nagar in Ludhiana at 4am when the residents heard the loud screams of the labourers trapped inside the hosiery factory on fire. “These workers would have survived had the owner, rather than being apprehensive about thefts, thought of value of the value of human lives,” said Manjeet, cousin of Satya Parkash. Another local resident, …

Kamala Mills blaze: The general attitude of indifference to fire safety in India needs to change
7 years, 3 months ago

Kamala Mills blaze: The general attitude of indifference to fire safety in India needs to change

Firstpost  

There is a lack of sanctity to a fire alarm bell in an office or residential block, which is why tragedies like the one in Kamala Mills are frequent. There is a complete lack of sanctity to a fire alarm bell in an office or residential block. In a school of 900 pupils jammed under thatched roofs, a fire in …

Bhubaneswar fire: After SUM incident, it's clear that Indian hospitals are diseased with fire risk
8 years, 5 months ago

Bhubaneswar fire: After SUM incident, it's clear that Indian hospitals are diseased with fire risk

Firstpost  

Hospitals in India are no safe havens; as much as those clean white sheets, sanitised needles and phenol-cleaned floors fool one into believing they are. “After the fire incident at AMRI hospital in Kolkata in 2011, we have not witnessed the trend of procurement of high-tech fire safety equipment,” he says. In places like Gurgaon, which is home to five-star …

Fire department to get more teeth. For that, good infrastructure and training is important. Apart from chemical disasters, we can take care of any type of situation.
10 years, 10 months ago

Fire department to get more teeth. For that, good infrastructure and training is important. Apart from chemical disasters, we can take care of any type of situation.

The Hindu  

By equipping fire stations with better infrastructure and helping fire-fighters build capacity, the A.P. The new fire stations will feature dormitories, recreation rooms, store-rooms, a living hall, changing rooms and huge storage spaces. “Given that it is our responsibility to control disasters like fire, floods, cyclones and earthquakes, we need our men to be in a good ambience,” the department’s …

Maharashtra yet to learn its lessons
12 years ago

Maharashtra yet to learn its lessons

The Hindu  

On June 21 last year, five persons were killed, 16 injured and thousands of sensitive government documents lost in a blazing >fire that gutted three top floors of Mantralaya, the Maharashtra government’s seat of power. “The defective detection and fire-fighting equipment installed throughout the building has yet to undergo a radical overhaul,” said a senior official of the Fire Department, …

Fire Safety: It's not just about Kolkata, it's all of India
13 years, 3 months ago

Fire Safety: It's not just about Kolkata, it's all of India

Firstpost  

In this comment, one of our readers Wiseman, rightly points out that the real problem is a lack of fire safety awareness and public discipline in India as a whole. by Wiseman One of our commenters “Wiseman” wrote us a strong, smart comment in response to our coverage of the fire at the AMRI Hospital – Horror hospital: Police file …

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