In Bengaluru’s BDA when one door opens, life comes to an end
A 65-year-old retired BBMP official fell from the fourth floor of the BDA complex in Jayanagar.
Bengaluru: A 65-year-old retired BBMP official fell from the fourth floor of the BDA complex in Jayanagar, and died as she succumbed to head injures, when she accidentally opened a door she believed led to a toilet. Instead, it led her to an open duct.
The death of the woman has brought to light the existing condition of the BDA’s commercial complexes across the city and the need to make them safe for the general public. These problems haunt several BBMP buildings as well.
BDA has 15 commercial complexes in areas such as Indiranagar, HSR Layout, Vijayanagar, Nagarbhavi and other parts of the city where it has rented out 774 shops and office spaces. Most of them were built some 20 years ago and need repair.
The victim, Jayamma (65), a resident of Tavarekere, was visiting the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) office at the complex to enquire about her pension. According to the police, her fall went unnoticed for hours as she landed near the women’s toilet on the ground floor, where repairs were under way. Her body was found in the evening by some workers, who alerted the police. The body was taken to KIMS hospital.
The police said the duct, which is about three feet wide, runs down four floors of the building. The door to the duct was earlier kept bolted, but as workers frequent it for repairs and maintenance, it was not bolted. As the door to the women’s toilet was right next to the duct, police suspect that Jayamma might have been looking to go there instead.
However, the shopkeepers and other owners at the site revealed that there was no signboard indicating that the door led to a duct. Besides, the entrance was so badly lit that anyone going there could have become a possible victim.
BDA commissioner T. Shyam Bhatt stated that an enquiry has been ordered into the matter. But the question that needs to be answered is, how negligence, especially in government buildings can go unanswered.
In around the 15 commercial complexes of BDA, there are about 774 shops and office spaces. “Many places inside the building are dimly lit and are in bad condition. After giving them out on rent, the BDA takes no interest in maintaining the commercial spaces,” said a consultant who did not wish to be named.
The safety manual issued by the National Building Code clearly states specific mandates on undertaking repair work on such buildings, but none of it seems to have been followed. Till now no case has been filed against BDA or the contractor responsible for the repair work.
There is also the issue of rentals. According to sources, several allottees owe BDA over RS 10 crore in due payments. However, there is absolutely no involvement of BDA or BBMP in building any of its commercial spaces other than renting them out.
Next: No manpower to conduct inspections
No manpower to conduct inspections
There are many lessons to be learnt from the incident at the Jayanagar BDA complex. It serves as a timely a reminder that the city’s high rise buildings follow rules prescribed in the National Building Code. Just a month ago, the State High Court had issued a notice to the state government, including BBMP, BDA, BESCOM and Fire services, but nothing much has come out of it. A life could have been spared if a sign or a barricade had been displayed.
The recommendations on high-rise safety in the National Building Code of India 2005 mentions that any building which is 15 metres and above is considered a high-rise, and the BBMP shall not grant building plans/licences to such buildings without a no-objection certificate from the Fire and Emergency Services Department.
Despite these rules that seek to make safety a standard practice, fire and safety services cite lack of manpower to conduct inspections, allowing many to flout rules, putting lives at danger.
The National Building code further states that buildings which are unoccupied and under construction should not be granted an occupancy certificate, unless a fire protection system is installed and certified by a fire officer, well before the building is ready to be occupied.
To ensure safety, buildings must be inspected by an officer nominated by the BBMP commissioner, along with a representative of the tenants/residents. A detailed compliance report has to be filed after inspection.
The officer can also carry out surprise checks to ascertain fire safety measures relating to encroachment of corridors, fire escape routes and emergency exits.
Most of these rules have remained on paper; but action and demanding answers from those culpable is a step yet to be taken.
Next: Jayanagar incident is a wake up call
Jayanagar incident is a wake up call
B.K. Hampagol
Government buildings must follow safety standards. Ironically, that is never the case. The tragic incident at Jayangar is a glaring example of the many safety hazards present in the debilitating BDA complexes, and the little or no measures taken by BBMP or BDA authorities. Ideally, government buildings should follow norms and lead by example, but this, it seems is a far-fetched idea.
A month ago, The High Court issued a notice to the home department, fire and emergency services, and to agencies such as the BDA, the BBMP and BESCOM to show action taken on the July 2011 notification on safety in high rise buildings. No one has complied as yet.
The many violations in Corporation offices in central district areas are disturbing and needs to be addressed urgently. The incident in Jayanagar is a wake up call to follow safety measures and value each and every human life.
It was an incident that could have been easily avoided. Even a simple sign on the door could have saved a life. If officials follow the rules stipulated in the National building code, this step would go a long way.
The writer is Deputy Director (Technical), Department of Fire and Emergency Services