NEW DELHI: In the first five months this year, fires in factories in the city have touched the three-digit mark. Till May 26, there have been blazes in 194 factories, indicating the need for urgent govt intervention to prevent loss of innocent lives. Most of the fires have been reported from industrial hubs like Narela and a majority of them originated because of establishments flouting fire safety norms, according to fire officers.
In the last two years, there have been 800 fires in Delhi factories. However, no corrective measure has been taken by the authorities despite the large-scale nature of incidents at these unauthorised factories and warehouses. Such places don’t usually have fire safety clearance from the Delhi Fire Service, but that has not proved a deterrent for them as they operate without hindrance in collusion with the civic authorities.
Fire officers highlighted several safety concerns. They noted that most factories operate in an unorganised manner, often with narrow staircases cluttered with goods that can hinder escape and rescue efforts. These factories lack demarcated escape routes, which can be crucial during emergencies. “They don’t follow any fire safety norms. The interiors of these factories too are entirely crammed with goods,” one officer said.
In January, an inferno engulfed a factory in Alipur, claiming the lives of 11 individuals. Upon investigation, the authorities discovered that the factory owners had disregarded essential safety measures, despite their awareness of the potential dangers. According to a fire officer, “There was a single escape route but that too was filled with combustible materials, making it tough for people to escape.”
Proper maintenance of the wiring and machinery is also neglected. The officer explained that adding new machines necessitated an upgrade in the wiring to handle the increased load, which was ignored. Overloading the existing wiring significantly increased the risk of short circuits. Another officer pointed out the lack of fire safety training and awareness among labourers and workers.
A fire officer said that the most severe scenario occurs when a compressor explodes within a factory building, intensifying the fire’s severity. The officer explained, “That’s because the abundance of combustible materials kept inside the factory fuels the flames.” The dense smoke emanating from the burning materials prevents firefighters from entering the factory premises, further complicating the effort to control the blaze. The officer added that poor ventilation in the factories also contributed to casualties and injuries.
In the last two years, there have been 800 fires in Delhi factories. However, no corrective measure has been taken by the authorities despite the large-scale nature of incidents at these unauthorised factories and warehouses. Such places don’t usually have fire safety clearance from the Delhi Fire Service, but that has not proved a deterrent for them as they operate without hindrance in collusion with the civic authorities.
Fire officers highlighted several safety concerns. They noted that most factories operate in an unorganised manner, often with narrow staircases cluttered with goods that can hinder escape and rescue efforts. These factories lack demarcated escape routes, which can be crucial during emergencies. “They don’t follow any fire safety norms. The interiors of these factories too are entirely crammed with goods,” one officer said.
In January, an inferno engulfed a factory in Alipur, claiming the lives of 11 individuals. Upon investigation, the authorities discovered that the factory owners had disregarded essential safety measures, despite their awareness of the potential dangers. According to a fire officer, “There was a single escape route but that too was filled with combustible materials, making it tough for people to escape.”
Proper maintenance of the wiring and machinery is also neglected. The officer explained that adding new machines necessitated an upgrade in the wiring to handle the increased load, which was ignored. Overloading the existing wiring significantly increased the risk of short circuits. Another officer pointed out the lack of fire safety training and awareness among labourers and workers.
A fire officer said that the most severe scenario occurs when a compressor explodes within a factory building, intensifying the fire’s severity. The officer explained, “That’s because the abundance of combustible materials kept inside the factory fuels the flames.” The dense smoke emanating from the burning materials prevents firefighters from entering the factory premises, further complicating the effort to control the blaze. The officer added that poor ventilation in the factories also contributed to casualties and injuries.
We also published the following articles recently
Blaze at fire safety equipment manufacturing unit in Delhi, none injured
A fire broke out at a fire safety equipment manufacturing unit in the Bhorgarh Industrial area in outer Delhi. Delhi Fire Service officials suspect that the fire originated from a short circuit on the first floor of the two-story building. Cooling operations continued after the fire was brought under control with the deployment of 16 fire tenders.
A fire broke out at a fire safety equipment manufacturing unit in the Bhorgarh Industrial area in outer Delhi. Delhi Fire Service officials suspect that the fire originated from a short circuit on the first floor of the two-story building. Cooling operations continued after the fire was brought under control with the deployment of 16 fire tenders.
