Open House: What steps should fire depts in Chandigarh tricity take to deal with mishaps in high-rises?

Better hydraulic machines needed

The recent fire in the revolving restaurant in Amravati has been a wake-up call for us. Many high-rise buildings are not well-equipped for fighting a fire. Of the 114 societies in Sector 20, Panchkula, 112 are not adequately equipped to handle fire. The societies are not having the necessary certificates. The administrations of all the three cities should go for hydraulic machines. In case, the cities find it difficult to purchase for themselves on account of budgetary allocations, the UT administration should come forward and purchase the same for them.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Fire dept should set its house in order first

A few years ago, I received a notice from the Fire Department. For a five-decade old building, the conditions mentioned were impossible to comply with. The department is charging fire cess for so many years and still they do not have a system which can be relied upon in case of mishap in high-rise buildings. In the reply to my RTI application, the department said they do not have an unhindered access to all the buildings in Sector 17. The department should first update itself in all modern firefighting systems before issuing notice to the public.

Ashutosh Vermani

Property, lives of residents at risk

With increasing urbanisation, housing planners have been left with no option but to go for vertical building construction. However, the matching infrastructure is lacking, especially of firefighting. With streets congested with vehicles and unavailability of hydraulic platform to reach the spot of incident, property and lives of residents are at risk. The administration must get itself fully equipped with required machinery besides formulating norms to decongest streets.

RP Malhotra, Panchkula

Hold annual audit, report shortcomings

The municipalities should be penalised if they don’t have staff and necessary equipment to deal with fire incidents. Some authorities should check the fire system yearly for audit and report shortcomings. Further, the municipalities should check buildings and fire extinguishers and issue fire fitness certificates yearly and the certificates should be displayed at all high-rise buildings. Fire fighters must be given proper training and certificates. Fire insurance should be made mandatory for commercial and high-risk buildings.

Ashok Kumar Goel, Panchkula

Overhaul fire safety system

Fire Departments in the tricity lack in trained manpower, proper fire tenders and high-rise platforms for multi-storey buildings. The clearances have been given to private builders of multi-storey buildings without provision of adequate road and space around the buildings to position fire tenders in case of fire. The emergency exits have not been provided in high-rise residential buildings. The automatic fire extinguishing system is either not installed or becomes defunct in a few years due to unserviceability and expiry of cooling agents. No action has been initiated against any builder violating norms. Haphazard constructions of such buildings at Kharar, Zirakpur and other peripherals towns may cause disaster in near future.

Wg Cdr JS Minhas (retd), Mohali

Conduct regular firefighting drills

With the construction of high-rise buildings in the tricity, it is imperative for the authorities to equip the Fire Department with latest firefighting equipment. The use of laser technique to control firefighting from ground may be examined. Lastly, NOC from the Fire Department should be made compulsory before giving completion certification. Regular firefighting drills should be carried out to check serviceability of firefighting equipment.

Col TBS Bedi, Mohali

Firefighting equipment shouldn’t be binding

You cannot consider each building will catch fire. A few of them can get destroyed in fire, if so, owner will suffer losses himself. Cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles are also moving on roads all day and night. Car owner suffers losses in case of any mishap. Same is the case with buildings. Firefighting equipment should not be compulsory in buildings. The municipalities charge fire cess so it will take care of fire incidents.

Ravinder Varma, Chandigarh

Hold inspections periodically

Firefighting system and NOC from the Fire Department must be mandatory for all high-rises societies or buildings and building plan should not be approved sans NOC from the department. Inspections should be made periodically to check the firefighting system. The Fire Department, along with builders, must be made responsible for any lapse.

Sonu Verma, Chandigarh

Install fire alarms

While constructing buildings, hotels etc. always keep in mind the safety measures along with the building architecture. The Fire Department should be fully-equipped with latest hydraulic systems to reach high-rise buildings. Fire alarms should be installed, which will automatically ring in case of fire. Sadly, such topics remain in news for a few days and everything is back to square one soon.

Opinder Kaur Sekhon, Chandigarh

Multi-task machines need of the hour

Fire incidents in the tricity’s high-rise buildings are quite difficult to douse for want of required infrastructure. Multi-tasking machines are needed to extinguish the such fires. Here it can be quoted, “A gun is useless without a bullet”. Owners/managers of high-rises should get the NOCs from Fire Departments concerned. On the other hand, the managers must keep fire extinguishers and other equipment ready. Everyone should be vacated from the building to avoid loss of human life. Humanity demands that disabled should be given immediate help and taken to a safe place as early as possible. The primary duty of the Fire Departments is to rush up to the spot as soon as possible and act swiftly so as to minimise the loss of property and human life.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

Monitor maintenance of safety standards

The tricity is following rules for high-rise building as per airport authority norms and the permissible FAR, though currently maximum height is not achieved in any of the building. The tricity is exploring itself with high-rise buildings. Hydraulic platforms comprised of a crane with a caged platform, which may be mounted on trucks, are the need of the hour to rescue people from fire in high rise buildings. Fire Departments must get itself ready by purchasing the latest equipment and ensuring necessary arrangements. Moreover, the Fire Department must regulate and supervise maintenance of fire safety standards followed by individual stakeholder.

Prof Kanchan Garg

Endure adherence to fire safety norms

It is a matter of concern that the firefighting equipment in the tricity area has not been upgraded for a long time. The city was originally not planned to have high-rise buildings. As a result, the hydraulic staircase was not a part of the initial plan. However, later on multi-storey structures came up in the form of residential societies, but the administration did not pay heed to the need for an update. Besides, the number of fire tenders and firefighting staff had also always been an issue. Strict norms must be applied for builders to have in house fire fighting arrangements without which they should not be given fire NOC. There must be coordination between the Fire Departments of the tricity.

YASH KHETARPAL, Panchkula

Recruit adequate staff in dept

It’s shocking to know that the Fire Department in Chandigarh is struggling to recruit firefighters and fire tender drivers to make up for shortage in both categories. I wonder that why the government and MC authorities are putting the item of firefighting staff recruitment in the end of agenda of their meetings? It should have rather been on the top of the list as it pertains to safety of citizens. The present strength of the firefighting staff is also working extra time to compensate for the shortage which is bringing their efficiency also down. The political masters and authorities concerned must work for the welfare of the citizens. It’s high time that authorities recruit sufficient staff for the Fire Department and also sufficient number of fire tenders. Along with it, other machinery required for professional firefighting should be procured immediately.

SANJAY CHOPRA, MOHALI

Tackle situation in well-planned manner

Almost all firefighting tactics in high-rise buildings are dependent on availability of water. The Fire Department must have hydraulic platforms equipped with fire tenders like Bronto Sky Lift (BSL). Along with it, sprinklers must be provided where highly combustible things are stored. Portable fire extinguishers should be installed with first-aid box. Every building higher than 15m should have manual and automatic alarm systems. Fire services need to have digital systems.

Anita K Tandon, Mundi Kharar

Use ultramodern tech to combat fire

If we can use using hydraulic lifts for constructing high-rise buildings, why the same can’t be used to douse the fire. The tricity administration should revamp its fire safety system by using ultramodern technology after every 3 to 5 years. Last but not the least, the administration must not issue the “occupation certificate” to the buildings till they have proper fire safety system.

Savita Kuthiala

Assess safety before approving projects

Hydraulic platforms are a must to douse flames at greater heights. All the commercial buildings and multilevel flats should be well-equipped with fire extinguishers. It is the duty of the government to check for fire safety measures, before giving the nod to any construction project. The Fire Departments should make suitable hydraulic arrangements to deal with fire emergency cases in high-rise buildings.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Audit of records must be done regularly

Fire stations in the tricity require a special drive to upgrade equipment and train their manpower. The staff strength is not enough and the vacancies are not filled. The department should procure the hydraulic platforms to reach the highest high-rise buildings in the area. More fire stations are needed in the city. Regular drills and practice are also very essential. Regular checks of all the buildings must be ensured and records maintained. Audit of records and activities must be done regularly.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma

Buy small fire engines, bikes

The Fire Department of Chandigarh needs an immediate overhaul. As traffic congestion is on the rise, the department should purchase small fire engines and fire bikes. The internal sector roads are choked with cars and two-wheelers, which doesn’t allow the big fire engine to reach the spot on time. The small fire engine and fire bikes can prevent bigger damage in case of fire.

Sunny Dhaliwal, Chandigarh

No lessons learnt by authorities concerned

It has been observed that the tricity administrations only wake up from their slumber after the fire incidents occur. The authorities concerned need to

be well-prepared to face any contingency. The basic fire safety and fire prevention measures such as underground/overhead water static tanks, automatic sprinklers system, first-aid hose reels, fire extinguishers, automatic fire detection and alarm system, public address system, illuminated exist way marking signs, alternate source of electric supply etc. are required to be provided in the buildings. Provisions of the National Building Code of India, 2005, should be observed meticulously. Disaster management task forces should be equipped with the latest techniques along with trained manpower.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

Need to sensitise residents

It is surprising and unfortunate that the Fire Departments in the tricity are ill-equipped to deal with fire mishaps in high-rises due to lack of hydraulic platforms. The departments need to procure modern firefighting equipment to deal with such untoward fire incidents. Further, the departments need to sensitise the general residents of these high-rises about the precautions which needs to be taken during emergency situations. Fire audit of all the high-rises must be conducted at regular intervals to ensure compliance of the fire safety standards by the residents. The fire departments need to conduct mock fire drills in the high rises to test their preparedness during actual fire emergencies. Even the residents need to exercise all precautions while dealing with electrical equipment. All of us have to work together to prevent any fire mishap.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

Water hoses should also be installed

It is imperative to improve the fire management system in the high-rise buildings of the tricity. It is also necessary to improve the system for prevention of fire, using automatic fire-detection and water sprinkler systems. Inflammable materials should not be kept at fire-prone areas and precautions must be taken against any irresponsible handling of fires. Residents or workers in such buildings should also be aware of the measures to be undertaken, in case of any fire. Water hoses should also be installed inside these buildings and in case of electrical fires, sand buckets should also be used.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

QUESTION

As per a recent survey by the UT Forest Department, there are 1,326 monkeys in the city. The department asks residents not to feed the animal. However, the monkey menace continues to trouble city residents. What steps should the UT take to curb the problem?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com