The recent tragic fire at a hospital in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, which claimed the lives of 11 newborn babies, is a chilling reminder of a systemic failure to ensure fire safety in India.
Challenges Leading to Fire Safety Failures
- Flawed Fire Safety Implementation: While fire safety measures are legally mandatory, regulations are often undermined by corruption in the process of obtaining fire no-objection certificates (NOCs).
- Structural Issues: Improper planning, lack of preparedness, and flawed construction further exacerbate the problem.
- Many establishments fail to meet fire safety norms, creating conditions ripe for catastrophic incidents.
- Additionally, the infrastructure is often unsuitable for handling different types of fires, such as electrical, chemical, or others.
- Shortage of Firefighters: Global standards recommend one firefighter for every 1,000 people. For India’s population of 1.4 billion, this translates to approximately 1.8 million firefighters.
- However, the country has only 300,000 firefighters, leaving a staggering shortfall of 1.5 million.
- This gap is most severe in densely populated states such as UP, Bihar and Maharashtra. On average, each state lacks 14,382 firefighters.
- Deficiency in Tools and Equipment: Fire trucks, a critical component of firefighting efforts, are also in woefully short supply. For example:
- Uttar Pradesh: Needs an additional 4,155 fire trucks.
- Bihar: Requires 2,775 more trucks.
- Maharashtra: Needs 2,640 more trucks.
On average, each state faces a shortfall of 707 trucks.
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The Way Forward
- Hiring and Training Firefighters: Bridging the massive shortfall of 1.5 million firefighters is a priority.
- The government should undertake large-scale recruitment drives and establish training institutes to create a skilled and ready firefighting workforce.
- Strengthening the Fire NOC Process: The process of securing fire no-objection certificates (NOCs) must be made more transparent and accountable.
- Ensuring Timely Responses: Reducing response times is critical during emergencies. This can be achieved by:
- Increasing the number of fire stations, particularly in underserved areas.
- Upgrading and expanding the fleet of fire trucks with advanced equipment.
- Developing region-specific fire safety plans, with urban and rural strategies tailored to the population density and risk factors.
- Supporting Firefighters: Firefighters operate in physically demanding and high-stress environments. Their well-being is essential for efficient performance. Measures include:
- Better Compensation: Provide competitive salaries and benefits.
- Mental Health Support: Offer counseling and stress management programs.
- Modern Facilities: Equip fire stations with amenities to support the physical and mental health of firefighters.
- Public Awareness and Education: A well-informed public can play a significant role in fire safety. Awareness programs should include:
- Evacuation Drills: Regular drills in schools, hospitals, and public buildings.
- Basic Fire Safety Training: Teach people how to handle small fires and use extinguishers.
- Emergency Response Education: Spread knowledge about how to respond effectively in the event of a fire.
- Prioritizing Fire Safety in Budget Allocations: State governments must treat fire safety as a key public welfare issue. This requires allocating more resources for capacity building and ensuring effective policy implementation.
- Learning from Global Best Practices: India can take inspiration from the USA’s fire safety model, particularly the use of volunteer firefighters.
- In addition to professional firefighters, a network of trained volunteers can provide invaluable support, especially in rural and remote areas.
Conclusion
In a country as large and populous as India, fire safety is not just a technical requirement but a moral imperative. The Jhansi hospital fire and similar tragedies serve as stark reminders that it is time for the nation to prioritize fire safety with the urgency it demands.
December 7, 2024
