Jamshedpur building owners asked to ensure fire safety measures, civic bodies to implement orders

Jamshedpur, May 31:With rise in incidents of fire due to mercury shooting up and moreover with recent fire mishap at tyre godown at Mango, the district administration has asked civic bodies to ensure safety measures in high rise buildings.

East Singhbhum District administration has asked the officials of civic bodies to ask owners to ensure security steps. JIADA, Jugsalai Municipality and others have also been asked to take action in this regard.

According to officials, non-installation of fire equipment, congested staircases, narrow entry roads and absence of trained personnel to tackle emergencies are major causes of concern in many multi-storeyed buildings in the city. Not only these, but a large number of these buildings have not left a route of escape, lack of staircases has also been detected at many places.

Vijaya Jhadav, deputy commissioner said that instructions have been given to owners and occupiers of buildings to ensure safety measures.

Sources informed that the administration had been directed by the State Home Ministry in a letter to ensure safety of high rise buildings.

It may be mentioned that the city has registered a sudden rise in fire accidents for the last few weeks giving the jitters to the officials and occupants of the high rise buildings.

“We have found that obstructed escape routes, unavailability of installed fire fighting systems and absence of regular fire drills are some of the reasons for loss of life and property in fire incidents,” Fire Station officer, Mahanand Singh

He went on to add that with rise in temperatures, the number of fire incidents have also increased. To prevent such incidents, occupiers of the high risers must take some safety measures. The mandatory measures also include installation of an automatic sprinkler system, portable appliances, automatic fire detection or manual alarm system, public address system, exit signs and wet riser.

Another district official said, “If required we will even cut the water and electricity connections of buildings that will violate the safety norms and the supply will not be reinstalled if they do not put these measures in order”.