Fire Status in Bharat
Data:
- 2022, 7435 people died in 7500 fire incidents - NCRB report, 2022
- Maharashtra and Gujarat - more than 30% of incidents
- India Risk Surveys, 2018 - 3rd position for fire incidents
Challenges:
- absence of uniform legislation since, fire is in State subject in Schedule XII
- National Building Code, 2016
- shortfall in number of fire stations and personnel
- poor compliance of rules
- poor implementation and irregular followups
- continued decrease in state budget
- Mumbai saw a decline of 38 % over the years in the budget
Causes:
- unplanned urbanisation
- high density of settlement
- 58% fatalities in 2019 attribute to residential building incidents, only 2% in factories
- settlements made of flammable materials
- high use of electrical equipment and machinery
Past incidents
- Kumbakonam school fire, 2004 - 94 children died
- Surat coaching centre fire - 2019
- Delhi hospital fire, 2024
- Rajkot game centre fire, 2024
Initiatives
- Model Fire Service bill - by MHA
- making municipalities and local bodies responsible to fire safety measures
- Director general of civil defense, home guards and fire services - under MHA assisted by Fire Adviser and inputs provided by Standing fire advisory committee
- National fire service college, Nagpur
- Scheme for expansion and modernisation of fire services in states till 2025 - 2026 - launched in 2023 by centre
- National disaster management authority guidelines
Way forward
- quick movement of emergency vehicles
- smart integration of all emergency services through a smart control room
- school curriculum change and regular mock drills for students
- efficient communication link between civilian groups and fire safety offices
