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PRAYAGRAJ: The major blaze at the multi-storey Nehru complex in Chowk locality wherein around two dozen shops were gutted on Saturday, has come as an eye-opener for the police, fire and district authorities as complex traders had never applied for electric safety audit from the Electrical Safety Directorate (ESD).
Moreover, old and rotten electric wiring, and outdated fire fighting equipment have left the officials of the fire department in a catch 22 situation. Ironically, 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.
Hemant Sharma, assistant director, electrical safety directorate (Prayagraj zone) told TOI, “Majority of commercial establishments in the city have not obtained NOC ( No Objection Certificate) from the Electrical safety directorate till now. He added “Department is all set to launch a drive to check the status of buildings including commercial establishments whether they have acquired NOC or not and take action accordingly”.
However, officials of the fire department, taking a cue from the Nehru complex inferno, have advised traders of different commercial establishments in the city to opt for electric safety audit from electrical safety directorate at the earliest. They also advised traders to go for new wiring as old wiring could not be able to bear increased load and often cause short-circuit.
Chief Fire Officer (Prayagraj) RK Pandey told TOI , “Traders have also been directed to install advanced and latest fire safety systems in their establishments. A four point safety guideline has also issued appealing traders to ensure that clearance should be maintained on exit routes and each and every shop owner should install fire-fighting arrangements. Besides, traders should switch off all electric appliances before pulling down their shutters.
The Saturday fire incident not only gutted property worth crores but also indicated that there should be no loose wiring or power connection as electrical short-circuit is termed the main cause behind majority of short circuit incidents. “Through probe would ascertain the exact cause of fire, short-circuit seems to be the culprit,” said a fire official.
He added, “A recent survey conducted by the department has revealed that more than 60% shops in the city neither have adequate fire-fighting arrangements nor the people know about the steps that should be taken in case of a fire.”
Officials of fire department, meanwhile, said, “We have been regularly advising people to install advanced fire-fighting 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-plus one- or two-storied building is more.
Fire officials said it’s a startling fact that traders having shop-cum-residential buildings are not aware about fire safety plans and most of such shops have only one staircase to reach the upper floors. “There should be at least two staircases for stepping up or down in every building, so that one could be turned into an escape route in case of a fire,” said the official. The availability of fire extinguishers should be ensured at all the times,” he added. A report of the department has revealed electrical short-circuit as the prime reason behind most of the fires in commercial establishments, including shops.
As a result, shopkeepers and owners are being asked to check electric wiring from time to time and ensure that there are no loose electrical wires or fittings,” officials informed. Similarly, the shop owners seem to be least interested in testing the functioning of fire extinguishers for long despite advice and communications.
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