Fire Safety Ignored in Multi-Storey Buildings in Jamshedpur, Narrow Lanes Make Firefighting Impossible

 Jamshedpur: A major disaster is waiting to happen in the steel city as fire safety norms are being blatantly ignored across hundreds of multi-storey buildings, hotels, and restaurants. Echoing the recent tragedy in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar—where a massive fire at an illegally expanded 25-room hotel operating on a 6-room plan claimed 21 lives—Jamshedpur finds itself on a similarly dangerous precipice.

Dozens of commercial establishments across the city’s three civic bodies—Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), Mango Municipal Corporation (MMC), and Jugsalai Nagar Parishad—are operating out of extremely narrow lanes, making it nearly impossible for fire tenders to reach them in an emergency.

A Grim Reality Check: Ground Report Across Three Civic Bodies

The scale of illegal construction and safety violations varies across different zones but remains uniformly alarming:

• JNAC Area: More than 122 small and large hotels are currently operational here. If restaurants are included, the number easily crosses 300. Around 200 multi-storey buildings are running illegal commercial activities (restaurants, cafes, and shops) in their basements, completely flouting mandatory fire safety standards.
• Mango Municipal Corporation: In densely populated pockets along Dimna Road, Old Purulia Road, and NH-33, over 45 hotels, marriage halls, and restaurants are operating without a valid Fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC). Many have carried out illegal constructions several times larger than their legally approved blueprints.
• Jugsalai Nagar Parishad: Being adjacent to the railway station, the congested, narrow lanes of Jugsalai house over 20 lodges and hotels. Travelers are regularly packed into these 3-to-4-storey structures which completely lack proper ventilation or emergency fire exits. Fire engines entering these lanes is practically out of the question.

The May 29 Warning Sign

The city received a stark warning on May 29 during a fire at the warehouse of New Gangour Sweets in Jugsalai. Because the building was located in a narrow lane, fire tenders could not reach the spot. Firefighters were forced to park their vehicles far away, connecting multiple pipes across neighboring rooftops to finally douse the flames. The incident caused massive chaos and filled surrounding residential buildings with suffocating smoke.

Rising Graph of Destruction

According to departmental data, Jamshedpur witnessed a staggering 116 fire incidents between January and April alone, destroying property worth approximately ₹1.65 crores.

• Golmuri-Aganshama Branch: Registered 88 fire incidents.
• Mango Area: Registered 28 fire incidents.

Experts warn that if concrete measures are not taken immediately, a catastrophic tragedy cannot be ruled out.

No Audits, No Strict Action

The administration’s laxity is actively compromising public safety. The city has around 60,000 large buildings (including apartments), 150 hotels, 15 hospitals, and 45 nursing homes, a vast majority of which lack adequate firefighting equipment or Fire NOCs.

Following a Jharkhand High Court order in August 2025, a statewide safety drive was launched. Local civic bodies were tasked with auditing schools, colleges, hospitals, cinema halls, and high-rises. Show-cause notices were served to 60 violating establishments across the three civic zones, and a few illegal basements were sealed. However, the comprehensive fire safety audit remains incomplete, and regular inspections or strict penal actions are virtually non-existent.

Severe Crunch of Men and Machines

Compounding the safety crisis is a severe shortage of resources within the fire department.

• Golmuri Fire Station: Operates with only 5 fire tenders, 4 drivers, and 4 firemen, against a critical requirement of at least 16 personnel.
• Mango Fire Center: Outfitted with just 2 fire tenders (one large, one small), 3 drivers, and 3 firemen.

Department officials acknowledge that the available resources are woefully inadequate given the city’s rapidly growing population and vertical expansion.

Official Speak:

“Teams are dispatched to inspect markets, slums, flats, hospitals, and hotels for fire safety only after receiving orders from the district administration. The findings are compiled into a report and submitted to senior officials. Action is taken strictly based on the subsequent orders issued regarding fire safety violations.”

— Rama Pravesh Ojha, Golmuri Fire Station In-charge