More than 20 shops were gutted as a fire broke out in Kadma market in the residential area of the steel city on Monday morning. The fire was caused due to a short circuit in a general store at about 7 am. Soon it spread rapidly and took several other shops under the flames. A person passing through first noticed the fire and informed the Fire Brigade but by the time a fire tender reached the spot most of the shops were gutted to fire.
Soon after the incident, one fire tender from the Jharkhand government fire station as well as the Tata Steel Fire Station were pressed into service for over four hours.
The shops that were gutted included grocery shops, garment shops, footwear shops, and general stores.
Ashok Kumar Ram, the OC of Kadma police station said apparently the cause of the fire was a short circuit but it would be officially confirmed after a team of officials from Tata Steel UISL will carry out an inspection.
“As per our information more than 20 shops were gutted at Kadma market apparently due to a short circuit. A team of Tata Steel UISL, the company under which the marketplace belongs, is looking into the cause of the fire,” said Ashok Kumar. The OC said the extent of loss due to the fire is being estimated.
An official of the administration said that most markets and commercial buildings in the city are extremely vulnerable to fire hazards, mainly in the absence of fire protection and extinguishing systems. Kadma, Jugsalai, Sakchi, Mango, Parsudih and Baghbera stills lack fire safety facilities, mainly in the absence.
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.
