Srinagar- In the wake of a devastating fire that engulfed a historic mosque and several residential houses in Srinagar’s old city on Monday, the Fire and Emergency Services department has issued a stringent warning to commercial buildings in Kashmir: comply with fire safety norms or cease operations.
Raj Kumar, Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services Kashmir, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Commercial buildings in Srinagar, especially in the densely packed old city, are neglecting fire safety norms, leading to frequent and destructive fire incidents,” Kumar said. “These buildings should not be allowed to function until fire safety measures are fully implemented. We must act now to protect our properties from devastating blazes.”
Providing details about the recent fire in Bohri Kadal, Kumar highlighted the challenges faced by firefighters. The blaze, exacerbated by exploding LPG cylinders, quickly spread to nearby residential houses and commercial buildings. “The fire went out of control due to the LPG cylinders. This was why residential houses and commercial buildings caught fire,” Kumar said. “Reinforcements were sought, and 20 vehicles were deployed to the scene to ensure minimal damage.”
The firefighting efforts were hampered by several factors, including traffic congestion and the need to replenish water supplies from other stations. Additionally, the lack of fire gaps between residential structures made it difficult to contain the blaze. “If the cylinder blasts had not occurred, the damage would have been minimal,” Kumar said. “Traffic was also challenging, and we had to bring in vehicles from other stations.”
Kumar reiterated the importance of adhering to fire safety norms, particularly for commercial buildings. “Commercial buildings must not function without fire safety measures,” he said. The warning underscores the department’s commitment to preventing future incidents and ensuring the safety of Srinagar’s residents and properties.
Pertinently, non-implementation of Fire Force Act (1967) to ensure that safety equipment is installed in buildings has also been blamed for the frequent fire accidents. Unplanned urbanization has exposed Srinagar to many civic problems, including the vulnerability to fire accidents. In some areas of the city, houses are stacked so close together that every time a fire breaks out, there is every chance of it spreading far and wide causing maximum damage. In many areas of the city, there is no adequate fire gap between the houses and as a result when fire breaks out in these localities fire brigade cannot douse the flames effectively
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