Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: Taking a note of fire risks in Hotels and appartments, the Odisha’s Fire Service Department on Wednesday conducted simultaneously inspection of 24 hotels, shopping malls, clinical establishments and residential buildings in Puri to check fire prevention and safety measures.
Acting on the order of DG Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence Bijay Kumar Sharma, 12 teams of fire service officers and team each comprises of eight members conducted raid on the establishments.
Inspection by fire officials revealed that many hotels, shopping malls, clinical establishments and residential buildings do not have complete and comprehensive fire safety measures. In some places, fire extinguishers are available but few other types of equipment are necessary to be installed.
Besides, open spaces, corridors, escape routes were found to have been blocked which pose danger to life and property. Good housing keeping, which plays a vital role in fire safety, was not followed. Moreover, most of the shopping malls and hotels do not have adequate exit signage’s to lead the occupants to places of safety in case of any emergency. Some shorts comings were also noticed during search.
DG Shri Sharma informed that notices shall be issued to the defaulting malls and hotels to fulfill the shortcomings within specified time periods. In case of non-compliance, further legal action, including sealing of the premises, shall be initiated.
Notably, the Odisha Government has enacted Odisha Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Rules, 2017 which have come into force on October 4 last year. The rules empower fire personnel to inspect different establishments to check fire safety measures and initiate appropriate legal action in case of non-compliance.
