Puri: The fire services officials Wednesday carried out a fire safety inspection at 23 establishments in the city and one in Satyabadi block and found the measures taken by them as unsatisfactory.
Twelve teams, having eight personnel each, carried out the inspections at 12 hotels, five hospitals and four apartments. The teams found that none of these establishments has adopted adequate fire safety measures.
The officials said notices will be sent to the establishments within a week mentioning what they lack in terms of fire safety measures and what they are required to do in this regard. The owners of the establishments will be given two to three months time to fix it, failing which action would be taken against them according to fire prevention and fire safety rules of 2017.
Giving further details, state chief fire prevention officer Brajendu Bhusan Das said, “Initially the electricity and water connections of the establishments will be disconnected. Subsequently, we will write to the development authority to cancel their licences. Besides, the buildings may be sealed if need be.”
The Fire Services department had issued prior notices to the hotels, hospitals and other establishments about the inspection drive. The inspections were carried out at Ananya Pride Resort, Hotel Holiday Resorts, The Hans Coco Palms, Royal Heritage, Hotel Bangalaxmi, Toshali Sand Resort Ltd, Hotel Empires, Hotel Mayfair, The Chariot Resort, Puri Hotel, Hotel Blue Lily, Hotel Golden Palace, Bazar Kolkata, Guru Empire, Vishal Shopping Mall, Jena Apartment, Shanti Apartment, Tulasi Apartment, Sri Palace, E-24 Hospital, Sri Krushna Health Care, Sanjeevani Hospital and Saradha Nursing Home in the city and Gopinath hospital in Satyabadi area.
The teams even faced resistance at two hotels.
“Not a single establishment has adopted the fire safety measure properly. The exit points, escape routes, open space and corridors for emergency situations have not been maintained properly in these establishments,” Das said.
The fire officials also found that a hotel is being operated from a building although it was built as G+2 commercial-cum-residential building. A 500kv transformer was found installed near the games parlour at a hotel at Chakratirtha Road. Besides, flammable materials were kept near the electric panel at a hotel, the fire official said.
The officials also sealed the pantry utility store of Ananya Pride Resort which had caught fire January 23.
PNN
