West Bengal Government forms fire safety committee

The West Bengal government today constituted a five-member committee for fire safety measures following the devastating fire at the AMRI hospital which claimed 91 lives.

The committee would review fire safety measures of hospitals, nursing homes, installations, high-rise buildings and hotels, Fire Services minister Javed Khan said after a meeting.

"The committee will ascertain if there are loopholes and whether necessary licences are being obtained from the fire services department," Khan told reporters.

"Stringent action will be taken against violators of fire safety regulations," he said.

The committee led by D P Biswas, Additional Director General, Fire Services will submit a daily report which would be reviewed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee every week.

Without giving details, Khan also said that the state was planning to outsource the licensing to an expert body.