Bar inferno sparks Bengaluru's fears

The fire at Kamala Mills in Mumbai, which claimed 14 lives resulted in authorities in the city tightening fire safety regulations. The BBMP conducted drives across rooftop restaurants and bars, closing down eight and issuing notices to 150 establishments for violating fire safety norms. However, thousands of smaller bars and restaurants dot the city, several of which flout the rules and work around the system by bribing officials.

Barely a  couple of weeks after a fire at a rooftop pub in Mumbai claimed 14 lives,  Bengaluru saw an early morning fire break out at a bar and restaurant in crowded Kalasipalyam on Monday that left five of its employees dead. They were asleep and trapped inside in the absence of a fire exit.  

Read| Guest Column| No proper inspections, trade licences, NOCs dictates by bribes: MG Prabhakar

But it could have happened anywhere as going by Mayor Sampath Raj most buildings in Bengaluru do not have an emergency exit as the builders usually use the space for other purposes in violation of rules and regulations.

We will hold a meeting with the Excise and Fire Services Department and discuss our future course of action. Most buildings do not have emergency exits,  which is against the rules and regulations. Strict action will be taken against the violators and their trade licence will be cancelled.”
Sampath Raj 
BBMP Mayor

A senior officer of the Fire and Emergency Service Department  also laments  there is little public awareness in the city about preventing or curbing a fire. “Any place that has more than two workers, must hold a fire safety drill.  Regular mock drills should also be conducted on the premises. Unfortunately this is not done in most buildings as people take fire safety lightly,” he regrets, pointing out that even a minor spark can burn down a huge building.

Having been alerted by the Mumbai fire, the city's Fire and Emergency Service Department had along with the BBMP cracked down on a few roof- top bars and restaurants across the city for violating  fire safety norms.  But now following the Kalasipalyam fire the two agencies plan to crack the whip against shopping complexes, apartments, high rise buildings, commercial establishments and shopping complexes, besides restaurants, hotels and pubs, which do not have emergency exits or fire safety equipment.

The two agencies will first go on an inspection drive of these establishments and then give them time to comply with the norms. If  they fail to fall in line they could be penalised and even have their trade licences cancelled.

“Strict action will be taken against the violators and we will ensure that their licence is cancelled . They will also have to a pay hefty amount as penalty,”  warns Mr Sampath Raj, adding that the BBMP will  hold a meeting with the Excise and Fire departments to discuss the future course of action.

 A fire department officer says priority will be given to buildings that are several decades old and plans will be drawn up to help them comply with the fire safety rules.

“It is a tedious task but we cannot compromise on safety. Also, the public should be aware that buildings that are less than 15 feet tall need to get a non-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department and those over 15 feet in height also need to get clearance from the BBMP,” he explains.

While  emergency exits and fire extinguishers are essential in every building, he believes it is also important to educate the employees of  restaurants or offices on ways to handle an emergency.
A BBMP officer reveals that following the recent drive against rooftop bars and pubs,  eight were closed down and  notices were served to 150 more for not complying with fire safety measures. “The drive will intensify in the coming days and we will act on the directions of the fire department, which is  more aware about the subject,” he reveals.

Ban inflammable decor in restaurants, bars
“Our government just talks about safety precautions whenever there is an incident like the Kailash bar fire. In reality  no one is bothered about anyone’s safety. Only huge fines and surprise checks can force the owners of commercial establishments to adhere to safety norms. If this is not done we will see more such incidents claiming the lives of innocent people,” warns Mr Anurag Jain, a city hotelier.

Going by him, employees sleeping inside hotels and bars has become a trend of late. “Employers get workers from rural areas and do not provide them with accommodation. Instead they allow them to sleep inside the hotels or bars to save them money and for security,” he explains.

In his view, the BBMP needs to makes it clear that no employee should be allowed to sleep inside hotels or bars for his own safety. “The employees are clearly being exploited this way. It is a dangerous trend and should be stopped right away. During the Kailash bar incident, if the employees were provided with proper accommodation, they would have been alive today,” he points out.

Another hotelier, Shankar Munirathnam, says the use of bamboo and wood  to decorate  pubs and bars  aggravates fires, should they break out. “Most of the tinderboxes, pubs , restaurants and roof- top bars use bamboo and wood for  fancy decor, but they do not know realise that these are highly inflammable material. Their use should be banned,” he insists.

While attention to such detail is important to prevent fires in commercial establishments, he laments that the authorities do little to pull them up for any shortcomings once they are suitably bribed.