WAITING TO HAPPEN: A file picture relating to a fire accident which occurred in a building at Basheerbagh.

HYDERABAD: The fire at Meena Jewellers at Punjagutta on Saturday once again brought to the fore the absence of fire safety measures in high-rise buildings and brazen flouting of norms even as the Government departments dither on acting tough.

Over 147 buildings, with 18 metres and above height, have already been declared `unsafe' by the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Department.

During an inspection conducted in February last, it was found that none of these buildings had open spaces and means of escape. Fire-fighting equipment too were not installed.

"If proper precautionary measures are not taken there is every danger of such tragedies recurring in these buildings with some of them being residential too," said Fire Services Director-General Alok Srivastava.

Despite making public the notices issued to 147 buildings asking them to rectify deficiencies, builders and resident welfare associations have failed to take any steps oblivious to the warning bells, he charged.

Classic case is that of the 24-metres high building housing the Meena Jewellers where all fire safety norms have been violated.

The building management had provided 1.5 metres open space on the eastern side, no space on western side, 0.20 metres only on northern side and 0.25 metres on southern side as against mandatory 10 metres open space on all sides as per norms.

Congested

Fire service officials say even a scooter cannot enter the premises.

"As the showroom was located on the main road we stopped fire tenders on the road and took up the fire fighting work. It could have been disastrous if the mishap had happened during the day time in such a narrow lane," pointed out an official.

The building also lacked an external staircase mandatory under the Fire Service rules.

Some workers on the fifth-floor where the fire broke out made vain attempts to put-off flames by using mineral water bottles. They then scampered down to safety as flames started rising up to the sixth-floor

Meanwhile, the Fire Services Department is said to be planning to prosecute all the builders of the high rises that have ignored the notices issued by it to take up fire safety measures for their respective buildings.

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