KOCHI: The state fire and rescue department has directed officials to inspect high rises in the state and report violations in the wake of recent major fire mishaps in Kochi and Perinthalmanna.
R. Prasad, director (technical), fire and rescue department said that special teams will be deployed from each unit in the state. "A direction has been given to all districts in this regard. The violations will be immediately reported to the district administration and respective municipalities. They have to take action against those buildings," he said.
However, sources said that the fire and rescue department is suffering from staff and equipment shortage.
"With the shortage of staff, we may not be able to inspect every building and find the faults while we receive a number of calls every day," a source said.
Meanwhile, the three member committee comprising district fire officer, Ernakulam, and regional fire officers of Ernakulam and Kottayam inspected the building of Paragon office-cum-godown that caught fire and found that it lacked proper fire safety facilities or had damaged equipment.
It was constructed as a building for functioning of shops and a residential category at the top floor.
The report will be submitted before the Ernakulam district collector and fire and rescue headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.
"The building has been permitted with sprinkler system up to its fifth floor, but they have totally changed it from such a category after getting the NOC and changed it to a godown," an official said.
The officials also found that there was a generator being operated at the ground floor which is suspected to have caused the fire.
"The generator was on as there was no electricity for some time in the morning. When electricity came back, a blast occurred from the panel body of the generator which might have caused the fire. We found the wiring through the stairs being completely damaged from the incident," officials said.
