Table of Contents
Context
- The deadly fire at an unregistered bag factory in Delhi’s Anaj Mandi area killed 43 workers.
- Poorly paid laborers live and work in several residential buildings turned into unregistered factories.
- Most of them came from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and virtually slept at night next to the machines they worked on.
- If the probe confirms that the victims were locked in and obstructed by materials stacked on staircases, the culpability of the respondents would be enormously higher.
State of Fire safety
- This is the third deadliest building fire in the national capital in two decades.
- Delhi’s Chief Minister has been blaming the lack of complete authority and obstruction by the Centre for his party not being able to deliver on a broader development agenda.
- Political parties, civil society, and government must chart a new plan to make the older, built-up areas safe.
- Rules under the new occupational safety code must be strong.
- Less government and lax enforcement is bad policy.
Facts
- 17,700 Indians died – 48 peopleevery day
- Maharashtra and Gujarat,the two most highly urbanised states, account for about 30% of the country’s fire accident deaths
Causes
- Violation of safety norms and lack of standardisation and regulation
- High rise buildings are more prone to fire accidents
- Poorly stored goods
- Unclear provisions of fire safety audit
- Lack of adequate resources, preparedness and poor fire services
- Lack of awareness about the safety arrangements
- Faulty Wiring
Preventive Measures
- Modernisation of Fire safety equipment
- Proper designing of electrical fittings
- Building awareness
- Fire service departments should audit critical fire prone installations
- Proper demarcation of entry and exit points
Fire Safety Regulations In India
- Fire services in India come under the 12thschedule of the Constitution under the provisions of Article 243W of the Constitution, the performance of functions listed in the 12th schedule comes under the domain of municipalities.
- Presently, fire prevention and fire fighting services are organized by the concerned states, Union Territories (UTs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
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