The major fire mishap at Mango in which truck tyres worth over Rs 12 crores were gutted at a  godown has raised questions over security in buildings. After 24 hours of struggle the fire was brought under control.

DC Vijaya Jadhav has expressed concern over the mishap and has decided to take action against the owner of the godown for negligence. 

In view of painful spectacles of various arson incidents encountered in recent months, the buildings and market places, mostly public-visiting places in Jamshedpur, are still not equipped with necessary fire-safety systems, posing threat to human lives in

general.

Thousands of other buildings in the city have no fire safety systems where massive public movement is seen almost every day. The city has registered a sudden rise in fire accidents for the last few months giving the jitters to the officials and occupants of the high rise buildings.

An official of the administration said that most high- rise residential and commercial buildings in the city are extremely vulnerable to fire hazards, mainly in the absence of fire protection and extinguishing systems.

Another senior official of the district said that most high- rise residential and commercial buildings in the city are extremely vulnerable to fire of fire protection and extinguishing systems. Jugsalai, Sakchi, Mango, Pursudih  and Baghbera stills lack fire safety facilities. hazards, mainly in the absence.

Though casualties were not reported, property worth over 2 crores was gutted in almost a half a dozen incidents in the last three months.

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".

Fire services department has sounded a general alert asking people to take precautions but lack of proper safety arrangements still remain a major concern. The fire control is receiving nearly a dozen distress calls everyday as against the normal average of five to eight calls in rainy and winter seasons.

Regarding the fire safety arrangements of the multi-storied buildings, he lamented that no public agency had ever physically inspected the fire fighting facilities of the tall buildings of both residential and commercial status.

Fire safety issues have become one of the major issues of concern for the urban population here in recent years, especially following the major fire cases that occurred since the onset of summer.

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.