Commissioner of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has stressed on stricter enforcement of norms across commercial establishments and residential areas in the city, in the wake of the recent fire accident which killed five persons at Nampally.
Mr. Ranganath held a review meeting with officials from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Fire Services and the Electricity Department, during which he outlined a comprehensive fire safety action plan. He directed officials to step up inspections in commercial complexes, furniture showrooms, textile shops and other business establishments across the city.
He said establishments which are found violating fire safety norms will be sealed immediately and their power supply disconnected. Officials have been instructed to paste notices on such premises, declaring them unsafe. City wide inspections will start soon to ensure compliance.
The HYDRAA Commissioner has also appealed to the citizens to report fire prone conditions to the HYDRAA control room at 9000113667. He asked people to share the exact location along with photographs or videos assuring that the identity of the informants will be kept confidential. Reminding that the city recorded over 36 fire incidents last year, he said reducing fire accidents must be a collective goal.
Referring to the fire accident at Nampally, where excessive storage in the cellar and unauthorised residential use led to loss of life, he warned the business establishments against storing goods in stairways, corridors and cellars and against using the basements for purposes other than parking. Storing inflammable materials, housing the workers or watchmen’s families in commercial premises and blocking the emergency exits are strictly prohibited.
The agency also stressed the need to keep fire-fighting equipment functional at all times, train staff in their use, maintain clear evacuation routes, and to ensure automatic sprinkler systems are operational to control fires without manual intervention.
