Delhi Police Sets Sights On Fire Safety Lapses In City’s Small Enterprises
Delhi Police has launched an initiative to monitor small businesses across the national capital that are operating without adequate fire safety measures.
Officials say these violations pose a serious risk to workers and nearby residents. The move follows a series of major fire incidents in March that claimed multiple lives.
One such incident occurred on Thursday, when a massive fire engulfed a small cloth stitching unit in northeast Delhi’s Jafrabad area. The blaze claimed the life of a man named Javed, who was unable to escape in time.
According to police sources, over 3,000 small businesses currently operate across various parts of Delhi. Many of these establishments have never applied for a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) and lack even basic fire-fighting equipment.
“We have decided that teams will gather information on businesses that are either operating without permits or are not following minimum fire safety protocols. These businesses will be instructed to keep basic fire-fighting tools on-site to help protect lives in case of an emergency,” a senior police official said.
Fire incidents and casualties see downward trend in early 2024
Data from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) indicates a significant decline in fire-related calls and casualties in 2024, compared to previous years. In January, DFS responded to 938 calls with six deaths reported. In February, 1,076 calls were received with two fatalities. By March 11, 455 calls had been recorded, resulting in four deaths.
In comparison, 2023 saw 1,204 calls in January with 15 deaths, and 992 calls in February with 16 fatalities. Until March 11 last year, six more people had died in similar incidents.
However, DFS records show that a total of 116 lives were lost to fire-related incidents throughout 2024-16 in January, 16 in February, 12 in March, four in April, seven in May, 29 in June, one in July, five in August, three in September, eight in October, 11 in November, and four in December.
Police focus on high-risk areas and materials
Police teams will specifically focus on collecting data from small businesses that use flammable materials in their operations. Officers hope that engaging directly with these business owners will increase awareness about fire safety and highlight the risks faced by emergency responders during such incidents.
Delhi government initiates fire safety audit of public buildings
Meanwhile, the Delhi government has ordered a comprehensive fire safety audit of all government buildings, particularly hospitals and health centres. The Public Works Department (PWD) will conduct the audit, checking for the presence and functionality of safety systems like fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and extinguishers. The review is scheduled for completion by April 15.
