Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Fire incidents claimed 333 lives in last decade

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 20 � The State witnessed 18,593 fire incidents during the last decade (January 1, 2000-March 31, 2010) resulting in 333 deaths and 612 injuries besides loss of property worth Rs 300 crore. According to data available with the State Fire Service Organization, property worth Rs 500 crore could be salvaged in the same period.

The State Fire Service Organization, which observed the Fire Safety Week from April 14 to 20, maintains that with proper precautions and awareness � by strict compliance of National Building Code specifications � no less than 70 per cent fire incidents can be prevented.

But unfortunately, the mandated fire preventive-cum-safety measures (as per the laid down norms and guidelines of National Building Code-Part IV-2005, Assam Fire Service Rules-1989) are not adopted in most of the multi-storey buildings and business establishments in the State.

�If at all, the minimum required fire-fighting equipment are installed in the buildings and no effort is given to make them functional and effective, resulting in increased vulnerability of loss of human life and property in the event of a fire,� official sources said.

The incidence of fire breakouts in the last few years has shown a rising trend, which calls for strict compliance of fire safety norms and together with enhanced awareness among the general public.

�The Fire Safety Week was part of our campaign to raise awareness levels about various precautionary measures to be adopted in different types of buildings and institutions so that loss in fire incidents can be reduced to a desired level,� sources said.

The State Fire Service Organization also appealed to all concerned, including builders, companies, school authorities and the media to undertake an urgent survey of their buildings and assess the vulnerability status vis-�-vis fire breakouts. It said that they could send their assessment reports to it by post or email those to [email protected].

Next Story