After violations resulted in a massive fire at Girgaum Chowpatty.
After a report from BMC’s disaster management cell suggested there were several violations of fire safety norms in the Maharashtra Rajani event, where a massive fire was reported on Monday, the government carried out one more fire audit of all venues of Make in India Week events.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said. “After Sunday’s incident, we have once again conducted fire safety audits of all venues of Make in India Week events.” The safety audit was conducted to check preparedness of various agencies and avoid repeat of any fire incident, he added.
There were several violations of fire safety norms during the hosting of the cultural programme, said civic as well as fire officials.
A report from the BMC disaster management cell said that the fire spread due to blast of cylinders and pyrotechnics. As the stage was installed near the sea, fire spread rapidly due to the strong wind. The decorations, electric wiring, speakers, carpets, tables, chairs, sound system, wooden planks, costumes, a big crane and its tyres, and fire crackers were all gutted in the blaze.
The report has also blamed excessive security measures for difficulties in fire vehicles reaching the spot. The heavy traffic during evening, as well as metal detectors, barricades, partitions erected to ensure tight security proved to be an obstacle to reach the spot, said the report.
According to fire officials, 62 waste dumpers were removed from the fire site and the fire audit report will be submitted within couple of days.
A fire official said, on the condition of anonymity, “We inspected the venue on Saturday and instructed the organisers to follow certain measures to prevent fire incidents before issuing no objection certificates to them. The organisers should have taken these precautions while organising the event.”
According to the fire officials, organisers were told not to allow inflammable materials during the cultural programme. They were also asked not to store LPG cylinders, fire crackers, pyrotechnics near the stage. Despite this, combustible goods were kept under the stage at its front side.
The blaze had gutted the stage at the cultural programme ‘Maharashtra Rajani’ at Girgaum Chowpatty seafront. The incident has raised serious question marks over the security of MIIW events, which are to be held at various places across the city.
