In view of painful spectacles of various arson incidents encountered the city in recent months, the buildings and market places mostly public-visiting places in Jamshedpur are still not equipped with necessary fire-safety systems, this posing threat to human lives in general.
On May 20 alone a major fire broke out at Kanchan Deep, office-cum- showroom of a LPG agency on the Old Purulia Road in Mango due to a suspected short-circuit. Six fire tenders belonging to Tata Steel, Tata Motors and the government fire station at Golmuri and Mango took over four hours to control the fire.
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 last few months giving the jitters to the officials and occupants of the high rise buildings.
A district official 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.
Dhalbhum sub-divisional officer Chandan Kumar said that they will soon start a drive to take action against such buildings and markets.
Most high- rise residential and commercial buildings in the city are extremely vulnerable to fire of fire protection and extinguishing systems. Jugsalai, Sakchi, Mango, Pursuih and Baghbera stills lack fire safety facilities. hazards, 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 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 violated the safety norms and the supply will not be reinstalled if they 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 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.