HYDERABAD: Remember the Kumbakonam school fire tragedy in Tamil Nadu that claimed nearly a 100 lives? Going by the condition of some schools in the twin cities, that include a few reputed institutions, tragedies like these are just waiting to happen.

Over the last few months, much hullabaloo was made with regard to the safety of school children outside schools, but what about their safety within the school premises?

In the aftermath of Kumbakonam fire, the Government woke up from the slumber and directed the officials concerned to undertake joint inspections in schools and evaluate whether the fire safety measures are in accordance with the mandatory requirements prescribed in the National Building Code (NBC).

National Building Code

Following the directions, the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services department carried out inspections in 7,200 educational institutions (schools and colleges) across the State. Over 360 institutions were inspected in the twin cities during the last two months and the results are shocking.

The officials found that there is deficiency in mandatory fire safety measures as per the NBC in all the 363 schools. Eighty one per cent of them were found with deficiency in water storage for fire fighting, 97 per cent had deficiency in availability of emergency plan of action and conducting periodic fire evacuation drills and 95 per cent have teachers who are not trained in usage of fire extinguishers and emergency plan of action.

Further, 52 per cent do not have the required means of escape, in case of a fire.

"This survey has shown the trend of how safe the institutions are from the fire safety point of view. The survey was done randomly as part of the fire prevention drive," said Director General of Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Department, Alok Srivastava.

Inspections to continue

The department also wrote to the regional office of CBSE schools in Chennai asking them to furnish details of CBSE schools here for inspection.

"As per the norms, no CBSE school is recognised if it is unsafe from the fire safety point of view. The inspections will be carried out further after receiving the list," informs Mr. Srivastava.

Directives

The Director General of Civil, Defence and Fire Services, Minister of Home Affairs has also issued certain instructions to be followed.

They include -- fire protection arrangements as prescribed in NBC, enough emergency exits, underground/overhead water storage tanks, portable fire extinguishers and sensitising teachers and other staff in fire safety.

Copy with The Hindu

A list of the 363 schools inspected (a copy of which is with The Hindu ) the Little Flower High School, Abids does not have underground/overhead water storage tanks for fire fighting.

Further, it does not have the portable fire extinguishers and the teachers and staff are not even sensitised in fire safety.

Similarly, the Rosary Convent High School at Gunfoundry too does not have portable fire extinguishers nor are the teaches/staff sensitised or trained in use of fire extinguishers.

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