Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh – In the wake of a significant fire at the Gaur Green Avenue housing society in Indirapuram, the Ghaziabad Fire Department has issued notices to at least 150 residential and commercial units for flouting fire safety norms. The intensified action follows an incident where a blaze at Gaur Green Avenue exposed critical gaps in emergency access and fire safety systems, prompting a special drive to curb violations.
Fire Department Crackdown After Gaur Green Avenue Blaze
The recent fire at Gaur Green Avenue, which ravaged flats estimated to be worth between Rs 3 crore and Rs 5 crore, highlighted serious deficiencies in fire safety preparedness. Following this incident, Ghaziabad Chief Fire Officer Rahul Pal announced that the fire department had initiated a week-long special drive to inspect establishments and issue notices to those found in violation of safety regulations. This drive, commencing on Friday, aims to ensure compliance across the district.
Information available with The Chenab Times indicates that the fire tenders struggled to reach the site of the Gaur Green Avenue blaze due to obstructions such as vehicles parked along the approach road and a garden that blocked entry. Additionally, balconies enclosed with PVC sheets were noted as a contributing factor to the fire’s spread and the difficulty in accessing affected areas.
Widespread Violations Identified
The notices issued by the fire department target a range of establishments, including projects by major developers like Gaur, Amrapali, and Supertech. Chief Fire Officer Rahul Pal stated that the establishments were found to have various irregularities, including encroachments and poorly maintained fire infrastructure. Some societies were found to have illegally constructed parks within their premises, dysfunctional fire systems, particularly the water pipeline system, and covered balconies used for storage.
Recent inspections have revealed a systemic issue with fire safety compliance. In the past two months, the fire department inspected over 200 buildings and has since issued 150 notices to units where fire equipment was found to be non-operational. Reports indicate that as many as 42 buildings, including residences, hospitals, and hotels, have been marked as ‘unsafe’ due to non-compliance with fire safety norms. Some of these buildings have been under scrutiny since 2017, with only a few having upgraded their infrastructure to meet current standards.
Addressing Systemic Issues
The Ghaziabad District Magistrate, Ravindra Kumar Mandar, has ordered a multi-department investigation team to examine the specific hurdles that hampered firefighting operations at Gaur Green Avenue. This probe will scrutinize factors such as encroachments, illegal constructions, and non-compliant balcony awnings that exacerbated the fire’s impact. Officials noted that parked cars, a park wall narrowing the access road, and illegal balcony extensions were significant impediments to the fire tenders’ swift arrival and operation.
In response to these recurring issues, authorities have directed regular inspections of fire safety standards across all high-rise buildings, hospitals, hotels, malls, restaurants, and educational institutions in the district. A strong emphasis is being placed on fixing accountability in the event of fire incidents, with departments tasked to audit electricity loads and take action against illegal constructions and parking structures that obstruct emergency access.
The Ghaziabad Fire Department has also been actively inspecting fire equipment and extinguishers to ensure they are in working condition. The recent issuance of 150 notices is a direct outcome of these inspections, targeting units found with inoperable fire suppression systems. This proactive stance aims to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety of residents in densely populated areas.
The situation underscores a broader concern regarding fire safety preparedness in high-density residential complexes across the region. While some buildings have recently upgraded their fire safety infrastructure following earlier warnings and judicial proceedings, the majority of identified non-compliant establishments remain a cause for concern. The district administration has reiterated the importance of adherence to fire safety norms, emphasizing that failure to comply will lead to escalated judicial action to ensure occupant protection.
The Chenab Times News Desk