Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 16: Orissa leads in the number of cases of fire accidents in commercial buildings in 2014, according to the statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
According to the NCRB, around 31 men and nine women lost their lives due to fire accidents in commercial buildings in the state.
The total number of casualties due to fire accidents in commercial buildings in all the states is at least 149, while Orissa tops the list with 40, the data said. According to rules, commercial buildings must obtain a fire safety clearance certificate from the Fire Prevention Wing of the office of the Directorate General, Fire Service before starting operations.
However, many commercial establishments do not get clearance certificates due to an alleged lackadaisical attitude of planning authorities.
“It is the duty of the planning bodies to send proposals for fire safety clearances to us. Our officials inspect the safety measures by visiting the establishments.
But in several cases, the planning bodies do not refer the establishments to us for clearance,” M Nageswar Rao, additional director general of police (ADGP) of Fire Services, told the media.
Andhra Pradesh tops the list of casualties caused due to fire accidents in residential buildings. The data compiled by NCRB says 246 persons died in the southern state due to fire accidents in residential buildings, while the blazes at residential buildings in Orissa were responsible for 140 deaths.
Meanwhile, Orissa Chief Fire Officer Sukant Sethy told Orissa POST that there might be scope for confusion, as as according to him not many cases of fires at commercial buildings were reported in 2014.
Sethy also exuded confidence that there were ‘no casualties’ in the state due to fire accidents in commercial buildings in 2014.