Many schools in Palampur lack fire safety measures

Fire safety in private schools across Palampur and nearby areas remains a serious concern. A Tribune team recently visited several institutions and found that most lacked proper fire safety arrangements. Many schools had only one staircase and no emergency exits, despite having over 500 students.

The Tribune had previously highlighted these safety lapses, yet no corrective action has been taken. According to fire safety regulations, staircases in schools should be at least eight meters wide, with an emergency exit. However, in many schools, staircases were only three to four feet wide, posing a major risk during emergencies. School owners claimed they were unaware of fire safety norms and had not received guidelines from the state or union governments.

Some schools are located in narrow lanes, making them particularly vulnerable. In the event of a fire, a stampede could result in serious injuries or fatalities. Despite this, most schools have failed to implement necessary safety measures.

The issue of school safety is not new. Following a Supreme Court order in 2017, the Ministry of Education framed guidelines to fix the accountability of school management for student safety. In 2021, further guidelines were issued to ensure compliance with safety regulations in both government and private schools. Additionally, the state government, under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and the Juvenile Justice Model Rules, 2016, notified school safety guidelines. These were forwarded to all district authorities and shared with registered private schools.

To enforce these guidelines, the education department announced it would withdraw No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from schools identified as fire hazards. However, despite these warnings, many private and government schools still lack basic fire safety arrangements. Neither school management nor the authorities have taken effective steps to implement the guidelines or cancel NOCs of unsafe schools.

One major challenge is the absence of a regulatory authority to oversee private schools in Himachal Pradesh. With new schools opening each year, many operate without adhering to fire safety norms set by the government.

A senior Education Department official admitted that the situation is alarming. Most schools have failed to install fire safety devices. The lack of enforcement and accountability has left students at risk, and urgent action is needed to prevent a potential disaster.