Why Delhi Remains A Tinderbox

A day after 43 died in factory inferno, No lessons learnt! Ground report shows how brazen violation of fire-safety rules continues across Capital despite back-to-back disasters

- Chayyanika Nigam & Puneet Kumar Sharma

While there’s much shock and anger over Sunday’s factory fire in North Delhi that killed 43 people and wounded many, a Mail Today investigation has revealed that similar disasters might just be waiting to happen in other parts of the National Capital as well.

A brazen violation of firesafety and building norms continues to make posh residential pockets, shopping hotspots, schools, coaching hubs, hotels and industrial belts virtual deathtraps. This year, 69 people have been killed in fire incidents in Delhi.

Let’s look at North Delhi first. The municipal corporation there has identified 2,800 illegal commercial units that are operating out of residential complexes in its jurisdiction. “This is just an official figure. The actual scale of violation can be four times bigger,” said an official of the civic body. The Anaj Mandi industrial unit was also operating out of a residential area, didn’t have a fire department NOC and was violating almost all safety norms.

Reacting to Sunday’s tragedy, North Corporation Commissioner Varsha Joshi said, “Around 15 days ago, our team inspected that unit. It was found locked at the second floor. So we were not able to see what was going on upstairs. We were in a process to send notice to the unit owner.”

Corporation Mayor Avtar Singh said, “We even have photographs of the team that inspected that area but this unit was found locked. I don’t want to politicise this incident. We have formed a three-member committee under the additional commissioner. This committee will file the report in three days and we will take strict action against those who are responsible.”

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