2 weeks Ago By Moneycontrol
The Noida Sector 18 market, frequented by thousands of people daily for work and shopping, is highly vulnerable to fire accidents, including the Krishna Apra Plaza, an eight-story building where a fire broke out on Tuesday morning, trapping around 300 employees in various offices and leaving at least 22 injured, the fire department said. Fire safety risks The fire department has found that 70 per cent of the buildings in the area violate safety regulations and lack the necessary NOCs to confirm their compliance with fire safety rules. Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar Choubey told TOI that notices have been sent to building owners, but there has been no response.
Last year, legal action was taken against 83 building owners for violating fire safety norms under the Fire Safety Management Act, with fines totalling Rs 26 lakh. The department is now planning to cut off electricity and water supplies to buildings that fail to meet safety standards. What are the fire safety regulations? Fire safety regulations mandate that all buildings taller than 15 meters must have functional firefighting equipment, inspected and approved by the fire department before an NOC is granted.
Additionally, staff members must be trained in using the equipment. Officials revealed that at least five buildings near Krishna Apra Plaza also lack fire NOCs. These buildings include corporate offices, banks, and mobile phone shops, employing hundreds of people and attracting thousands of visitors daily.
Challenges in accessing buildings In many of these buildings, fire safety systems have been left unused for extended periods. Also, the encroachment by food stalls and other shops on the roads has made it difficult for fire teams to reach the buildings quickly. In some cases, fire teams may take up to 10 minutes or longer just to set up their equipment and access the buildings in the event of a fire.
According to the fire departments, the malls and upscale jewellery stores in the area meet fire safety standards. However, the famous Atta Market known for street fashion, electronics and food in Noida Sector 18, poses significant safety risks. The narrow bylanes of the market prevent fire trucks from entering, and if they manage to get in, they would need to reverse out.
The market also faces additional dangers, including loosely hung electric wires, narrow staircases, a lack of emergency exits, and unauthorised parking. Water supply shortage Water supply for firefighting is another major concern. Fire officials have been requesting the Noida Authority to build a reservoir near Atta Market for firefighting purposes but have received no response.
“We have requested the Authority to install an underground water tank with a capacity of 5 lakh litres. For emergencies, we also need hydrants and pump sets in the market. The Authority must also address unauthorized parking and relocate it outside the narrow lanes,” a senior officer was quoted by TOI.
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