According to National Crime Records Bureau, a total of 7,054 cases of fire accidents were reported in the country during 2023, causing 6,891 deaths.
- More than 50% of these incidents were reported in residential/dwelling buildings
Reasons for fire in India
- Natural factors - Hot and dry climate, prevailing winds, Seismic vulnerability etc
- E.g. Brahmapuram waste plant fire in Kochi (2023) due to high heat
- Design and Density: High-rise building block density, Substandard and illegal Construction. Use of Flammable Materials for construction etc.
- E.g. Kumbakonam School fire of Tamil Nadu (2004) due to flammable material
- Inadequate compliance:E.g. lack of fire exits , narrow staircase etc.
- E.g. coaching center Mukherjee nagar (Delhi) fire(2023)
- Limited Resources: In 2019, there was a shortage of 5,191 fire stations and 5, 03,365 personnel than required.
- Others - lack of awareness, lack of centrally maintained data set, electrical failures etc.
Existing Fire Safety Regulations in India
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Way ahead
- Technological Integration: AI-based risk assessments, mobile applications for reporting incidents etc.
- Optimize Fire Station Placement: Reflecting realities of road networks and traffic congestion
- Secure Funding: eg. Introduction of Fire Tax for upgrading equipment, infrastructure etc.
- Ensure compliance: Proper scrutiny before sanctioning NOCs, Accountability mechanisms for officials involved in sanctioning licenses etc.
- Follow best practices: eg. China’s strict enforcement and community-based fire prevention programs to educate residents about risks and emergency response.
