Bawana Fire Tragedy: Stringent Regulations Are Need Of The Hour

After almost 20 days that a massive fire broke in Mumbai's Kamala Mills, a newly-constructed building at the national capital's prime industrial area, Bawana caught fire on January 20, killing 17 and leaving many injured. The building, according to the media reports, was being illegally used to package explosives used in firecrackers. While the High Court and Supreme Court have been ordering for stringent regulations for those not complying with the proper licences and sealing the industries which do not have required permission or are operating illegally, the accident has brought forth the shortcomings of the local authorities.

According to the media reports, the building was recently constructed and was leased for Rs 25,000 per month. Though the area is embarked and licensed for manufacturing and packing of plastic goods, initial investigation has revealed that the unit was being used for packing and storage of firecrackers and explosives without obtaining clearances.

Media reports further reveal that the licences were provided by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and the allotment letter mentioned the commercial activity as "plastic goods".

 Rules flouted

The accident brings forth many rules that were being flouted:

*The building had just one exit while other escape routes were blocked due to rampant unauthorised construction. Many died of suffocation because they were trapped in a room with no proper exit.

*Since there was only one exit in the front and the fire started from the basement, the blaze spread upwards, leaving people with no other option than to run towards terrace.

* According to the fire department, "electric wires in the building were running haywire...” Also, the building had no fire-fighting arrangement.

*Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain was quoted in the media as saying, “Nobody in Delhi has a license to manufacture firecrackers.” The factory was being operated illegally, raising a question on the local authorities.

Delhi is sitting on a ticking bomb

The Bawana fire accident has been said to be the worst since Upahar Cinema Tragedy in 1997 that killed around 60 people. It seems local bodies have not learned much from these cases which have claimed innocent lives. Areas such as Hauz Khas Village, Connaught Place, Khan Market and Chandni Chowk, which have number of illegal establishments with no proper fire-fighting arrangement, local bodies have attracted the wrath of the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court multiple times. The fire safety norms are openly flouted by various establishments, including restaurants, pubs, hospitals and banquet halls spread across the city. According to the media reports, only 15 to 20 per cent of the total establishments have received clearance from the Fire Department, but continue to operate, violating fire norms.

Not just eateries and factories, the hospitals have been reportedly violating the norms by not taking mandatory clearances from the fire department. It was in December last year when another tragedy was averted and dozens of patients, their relatives, doctors and other staff were rescued after a fire broke out on the second floor of the Metro Hospital and Cancer Institute in Preet Vihar. Even as the hospital claimed that it followed all norms, it was later reported that the hospital did not have clearance or a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the city's fire department and that adequate fire safety measures were not in place.