20190729 No lesson learnt: Nandaram Market still flouting fire rules
India Jul 29 2019 “Building” “Stores”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
No lesson learnt: Nandaram Market still flouting fire rules
Updated: 2019–07–30
KOLKATA: Senior fire department officers who visited the Nandaram Market on Monday to assess the fire-safety preparedness found it to be inadequate. While many water sprinklers were found to be defunct, most pockets inside did not have fire alarms and the lower levels of the market did not have any provision for water supply.
The fire department has told the traders that they will provide them with fire safety guidelines, which will have to be implemented within a stipulated time period to get a clearance. The department, however, decided not to shut the market since it involved livelihoods of thousand of people. The team was led by Jag Mohan, director general of the fire services department.
“The inspection revealed that several fire-safety guidelines recommended after the blaze in 2008 were not implemented. Several water sprinklers inside the market were lying defunct and fire alarms were found missing in several places. There was no provision for water to douse fire at the lower levels. We have also asked them to install separate pumps,” said Jag Mohan after the inspection.
The July 13 fire in an apparels godown brought the spotlight back on fire-safety preparedness at Nandaram Market where a blaze had raged for over 100 hours in 2008.
“We have told the traders to approach us and we will give them comprehensive firesafety guidelines. They will have to implement those within a stipulated time,” said Jag Mohan.
Web Source: The times of India