Twin blazes that killed 34 in India expose lax safety attitudes

Findings reveal breach of fire safety regulations in both cases

- Nirmala Ganapathy

Twin fire tragedies in the north and west of India, which left 34 newborn babies, children and adults dead, have laid bare lax attitudes towards fire safety rules in the country, say experts.

On the evening of May 25, in capital city New Delhi, seven newborn babies - with the oldest a mere 25 days old were killed after a fire spread through Baby Care New Born Hospital. The hospital, which was set up in 2017, is in the middle of a congested residential area.

Five babies were rescued and are in intensive care. Just a couple of hours earlier on the same day, some 1,199km away in Rajkot, in the western state of Gujarat, 27 people - including children - were killed after being trapped in a fire at a multi-level gaming arcade.

Among the victims was the coowner of the gaming arcade. His body, burnt beyond recognition like many other victims, was identified after DNA testing.

The fires, said Assistant Professor Anuj Daga at the School of Environment and Architecture in Mumbai, underscored how India had strict safety rules but lax implementation.

"The regulatory environment has, on the one hand, created a very strict checklist" - except that once the authorities come and grant permission, there are few checks after, he highlighted.

"Often, in a lot of cases, these (buildings) are not really seen again (by the authorities)." India has no lack of fire safety regulations and rules. The National Building Code states that all exits have to be marked and recommends the use of fire alarm systems, automatic fire detection systems and sprinklers, and water sprays and fireman lifts for multistorey buildings.