Advisory Council to meet to discuss fire precautions

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) The Centre today said a Standing Fire Advisory Council meeting will be organised to impress upon district administrations to take effective measures to prevent recurrence of incidents such as the fire in Meerut last month in which at least 58 people had died.

Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha on a call attention notice on the incident, Minister of State for Home S Reghupathy said the Standing Committee headed by Director General Civil Defence and having Heads of the State Fire Services as members, will discuss the problems and issue necessary recommendations.

On April 10, a fire caused by a short circuit at a consumer brands show in Meerut killed 58 people and injured 164. Three people were still reported to be missing.

The Bureau of Indian Standards had in 1993 published its recommendations on fire precautions during construction of temporary structures and pandals in 1993. The district administrations and municipal authorities have to enforce the by-laws to ensure that these measures are implemented during public outdoor assembly, the Minister said.

He said the recently enacted Disaster Management Act, 2005, emphasised the preparation plans at the national, state and district levels for prevention of disasters, mitigation of their effects and preparedness and capacity building for effective response.

Mr Reghupathy said the government had recommended for a posthumous National Bravery award, Javed, the youth from Meerut who died rescuing around 13-14 children trapped in the fire.

Several members, including Mr Rajeev Shukla (Cong), Mr Veerendra Bhatia (SP) Mr Tarini Kanta Roy (CPI-M), Prof Ramdev Bhandari (RJD), Mr Rashid Alvi (Cong) and Mr Abani Roy (RSP), also expressed their views on the incident.

UNI MCN LR HS1417