UP observes Fire Safety Week amid non-existing safety norms

Lucknow, Apr 14 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Fire Service is celebrating fire safety week among raging concerns of poor implementation of safety norms against a backdrop of the Meerut trade fair tragedy, which has so far claimed 42 lives.

Even as fire service officials exhorted their men to serve people beyond the call of duty, the norms framed to prevent fire incidents at public places including multi-storeyed buildings and exhibitions, are yet to be implemented properly.

The fire at Meerut trade fair on Monday and yet another fire incident yesterday -- this time at Bapu Bhawan in the state capital, which houses senior bureaucrats and ministers -- has proved that even the basic fire safety norms were not followed.

While in Meerut, the district administration had given permission to hold the trade fair, ignoring safety norms, in the Bapu Bhawan fire, the fire safety equipment failed to respond during the incident.

An FIR was lodged against members of the organising team of the trade fair -- Lakhan Pal Tomar, Ashit Gupta and Siddharth Malhotra.

The three are part of Mrinal Exhibitions and Expositions Pvt Ltd, a Meerut based firm.

The three air-conditioned pandals had only one exit and lacked any fire fighting equipment. Made of thermocol and plywood to retain the AC chill, the material of the 100 meter long pandals proved fatal after a short-circuit caused fire.

While most died of stampede, others were charred to death. The bodies of those killed in the stampede were also charred.The fire could be controlled after two-and-a-half hrs.

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