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The Deathtraps of Delhi

As the Mumbai fire disaster sent shockwaves across the nation, DNA digs deeper and uncovers the appalling state of the mandatory fire-safety systems in the National Capital's party hotspots. Is your New Year's bash worth the risks?

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Hours after a massive fire broke out at a restaurant in Mumbai's Kamala Mills compound late on Thursday night, the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), in a shocking revelation, told DNA that of the 60 restaurants in Hauz Khas Village only three have fire clearance from the fire department.

Both, Khan Market, which has only four restaurants with fire clearance, and Hauz Khas Village are upscale party hotspots in the city that attract thousands of youth and families every night. Most of the restaurants and bars in these neighbourhoods, which are usually booked in advance for New Year's eve, have single exit-entry points, with no proper ventilation. As per senior officers from DFS, these places are nothing less than deathtraps in case of any accident.

"Such places need to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) before starting the business that is given after a detailed inspection of the place. A wide staircase, multiple exit points, advanced fire-fighting systems, smoke alarms and other specifications need to be fulfilled to get the NOC. The fire department undertakes this inspection on the recommendations of the municipal corporations," said a senior officer from the DFS.

In September this year, approximately 21 restaurants were sealed in Hauz Khas Village for not having proper environmental clearances to operate. The move came after the Delhi High Court termed the Hauz Khas Village as "a ticking time bomb" and observed that neither the government agencies nor the restaurant owners of the area have responded to its queries on safety and other issues.

"The reports of Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, municipal corporation and the Delhi Jal Board illustrate that the Hauz Khas Village is a ticking time bomb without essential civic and emergency services. Our repeated queries regarding the quantum of solid waste (garbage) and sewage generated by these restaurants (pubs, bars and cafes in Hauz Khas Village) evoked no response from either the authorities or the restaurant owners," the court had observed.

In Connaught Place (CP), another favourite among party revellers, 114 restaurant, and pubs have been given the NOC. Atul Garg, Chief fire officer from the DFS, said that if compared, pubs are more likely to act as a deathtrap than restaurants if any unfortunate incident takes place. The department also advised Delhiites to avoid overcrowded pubs with inadequate safety measures.

"Pubs are not as well lit as restaurants. They have loud music and because of paid entry, only one manned entry point. Smoking is allowed and people are mostly in a drunken state. In such an environment, it is easily possible for one to ignore the early warnings of any fire incident. While smoke alarms may remain unheard behind the loud music, smoke also may go unnoticed. Since entry and exits are limited, it may lead to a stampede-like situation. Most of those who are drunk may even fail to escape in time," Garg said.

In February this year, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had ordered 21 restaurants in CP to shut down their rooftop sections, after part of a building in CP's C Block collapsed raising safety concerns.

As per its protocol, in fire-related incidents, the DFS carries out a detailed inspection and submits a list of recommended changes required to avoid future mayhem.

"If the requirements are met within the time period, the NOC is given, else rejected. At the time of a fire, rescue operations at any place that has the NOC would be far easier than at the places which flout safety norms," he said.

In the past

Feb 12, 2017

The open-air rooftop wing of a restaurant in Connaught Place collapsed, fuelling fears about the safety of the Capital’s popular British-era shoppers’ stop.

March 3, 2017 

Two firemen from Delhi Fire Services (DFS) were killed while their two colleagues were critically injured in a cylinder blast at a restaurant in West Delhi’s Vikaspuri. Fire broke out due to the blast. It took an hour for the firemen to douse the flames.

May 10, 2017  

Fire broke out in a restaurant and an automobile showroom in southeast and east Delhi causing losses to the property worth lakhs of rupees. A call was received about the fire at Comesum Restaurant at the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station.

August 11, 2017

Eight persons were injured in a compressor blast in a restaurant near a posh high-rise in Noida’s Sector 120. All the eight injured persons were working in the kitchen of the restaurant when the blast occurred. The incident took place at Handi restaurant around 8.30pm. The blast was so intense that the windowpanes on the front side of the restaurant were shattered and the restaurant’s board fell off.

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