Andhra Pradesh - Karimnagar   

Private schools flouting fire safety norms

K. M. Dayashankar

No staircases for emergencies

KARIMNAGAR: Majority of private educational institutions, which are housed in rented or privately-owned buildings without any playgrounds in the dingy lanes of Karimnagar town, have been flouting the fire safety norms in spite of strict instructions by the Fire Services Department.

After the Kombakonam fire mishap in Tamil Nadu, where several school children were burnt alive when the fire broke out in the school, the State Fire Services Department had issued instructions to all private educational institutions to secure fire services certificate and install basic fire extinguishers, potable fire extinguishers etc in the schools and hostels buildings. In spite of orders, the private educational institutions are not coming forward to provide minimum fire safety measures in the schools, colleges and hostels. Instead, the private institutions, in order to earn more profits, were choking the small classrooms and hostels with more number of children.

Any small fire mishap in private educational institutions would be worse as the students would not have any escape routes, safe place or lobby to stay during emergencies. The multi-storeyed buildings do not have proper staircases or emergency doors for the easy exit of the children during the emergencies.

Talking to The Hindu here on Thursday, Karimnagar Station Fire Officer M. Srinivasa Reddy said that majority of private educational institutions in Karimnagar town were flouting the fire safety norms. The private institutions have n either equipped their premises with potable fire extinguishers nor trained their teachers or wardens about the prevention of fire disasters.

The private schools should impart training to students and teachers about avoiding panic and stampede during the emergencies. He said that the institutions should also conduct mock-drills and handle potable fire extinguishers. But, in several schools, the fire engine (tender) cannot reach the spot or fight the fire because of its location in narrow lanes without any open space.

Any fire mishap in Karimnagar town schools would repeat the gruesome incidents of the Kombakonam school and Srirangapatnam function hall of Tamil Nadu and Uphaar theatre incident of New Delhi, he said and added that the school children literally do not have any emergency exit points in any of the multi-storeyed school buildings. Karimnagar town private recognised schools association president S. Komuraiah said that they would take all measures to equip the schools with fire extinguishers and also train the teachers, students and others to avoid major fire disasters during emergencies.

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