200 buildings in Kozhikode have no fire safety

KOZHIKODE: The fire and safety officials have once again stressed the need for implementing an efficient firefighting mechanism in the light of the blaze in a jewellery shop on Pavamani Road on Sunday. Fire and rescue services assistant divisional officer Arun Bhaskar said notices were issued last year to nearly 200 buildings in the city for noncompliance with the Fire Force Act.

“Most of the buildings do not have proper fire exits,” he says. “Other buildings are similar or worse. There was no ventilation in this building. When the malls in the city fail to maintain their fire extinguishing system annually, the smaller establishments do not even install such a system.

“Fire and rescue services have only the power to check and put them on notice. Action has to be taken by the higher authorities. In Delhi and Maharashtra, fire and rescue officials have the right to disconnect power and water connections and to close it down,” he added.

The delay in updating of Kerala Fire Force Act that came into force in 1962, is clipping the powers of the department and putting the life of people as well as properties at risk. Though cities like New Delhi and Mumbai brought out changes to the law according to the needs of the changing societies, Kerala is yet to open eyes to reality.

In Sunday’s fire outbreak, the firefighters had to break open the concrete walls and false ceilings and Mr Bhaskar got injured on his hands. “The Act in force is not convincing and is very archaic. There are no rules as such. Things were very different in 1962 and many states went ahead and political will is needed to implement the changes. The life of people is more important than development. Many malls and big buildings are functioning without proper fire fighting system and we do not have the power to close down the buildings or disconnect power supply to them,” DGP Loknath Behera said.