The Hindu : New Delhi News : Fire drill makes Ministers run for safety

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 25, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Fire drill makes Ministers run for safety

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 24. A sudden ringing of the fire alarm at 4-30 p.m. at the Players Building housing the Delhi Secretariat had State Cabinet Ministers, legislators and the common man running for safety as the authorities began an evacuation exercise. The building houses the offices of the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and her Council of Ministers.

It later turned out that the entire exercise was a "mock fire drill" carried out to gauge the preparedness of the various agencies in dealing with such a situation. As it happened, Ms. Dikshit was out of town and only four Ministers including the Education Minister, Arvinder Singh Lovely, the Transport Minister, Haroon Yusuf, the Food and Supplies Minister, Raj Kumar Chauhan, and the Industry Minister, Mangat Ram Singhal, were present in the building.

Interestingly, the fire drill may not have pointed to any major discrepancies in the fire fighting system of the Players Building but it certainly could provide valuable information to Ms. Dikshit about the "health" of her Cabinet Ministers and bureaucrats. Many of the Ministers and bureaucrats who rushed out of the building ran out of breath while climbing down the stairs of the 10-storey building. They were seen panting in the parking lot and complimenting each for having made it to the open area without any damage.

"This fire drill has certainly exposed the fact that health is something that has been found to be wanting among the rulers of Delhi. This is a cause for concern and Ms. Dikshit should take steps to tone up the health status of her Ministers and babus," said an official.

It was around 4.30 p.m. that the fire alarm of the entire building went off triggering a flurry of activity. The private security guards as well as the other personnel posted inside the building rushed to the offices of the senior bureaucrats and Ministers asking them to evacuate the building. As per the prescribed guidelines, the elevators were not used during the evacuation process and everybody uses the fire escape stairs to reach the open parking lot at the second level as well at the ground floor. Interestingly, some of the departments had been tipped off about the possibility of the fire drill and had been asked to vacate the building when the fire alarm went off.

As for the common visitors to the premises, they were totally taken aback and many of them could be seen pressing the buttons for the elevator to leave the building. It is another matter that the elevators had been switched off and the people were being directed to go through the fire escape route. However, the panic later turned into comfort after the fire authorities reached the scene with six fire tenders and declared that this was a mock drill aimed to gauge the preparedness of the authorities.

However, the firemen pointed out that in case of a fire in the building the tenders would not be able to climb up the driveway to the second level ending at the portico, which was a fire hazard. Also it was pointed out that the situation was also not satisfactory as far as approach from the back side of the building was concerned and there was a need to carry out a safety audit on such aspects for future course of action.

For their part, the Ministers relaxed in the parking lot among the people. Some did not miss the opportunity to finish their official business and wrap up their meetings. Mr. Lovely and the Mr. Yusuf did not miss the opportunity to hold the meeting on DTC passes for school and college students and take necessary decisions along with the officials of the departments concerned.

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