Fire safety rules violated: Javed
Wednesday’s tragedy once again exposed how businesses are run in dangerous environments in Kolkata markets by violating all fire safety and civic norms. Describing the Surya Sen Market building “illegal”, state fire minister Javed Ahmed Khan said that the blaze originated from the mezzanine floor of the building spread over 15,000 sq ft. which was constructed illegally.
Storage of highly combustible materials also fuelled the blaze, Mr Khan said. The victims were, however, not shop-keepers but mostly daily wagers who used to sleep there at night.
Another possible cause of the fire was the close density of shops and other establishments which even surprised Mr Khan. “Out of an odd-150 shops and godowns at the building, 108 alone were located at the first floor. Inflammable items of different types were stored in most of them,” he pointed out.
Director general (fire and emergency services) D.P. Tarenia said, “The interior construction was so dingy with only one thoroughfare that our teams could not realise the building’s map initially.”
The fire department has lodged an FIR with the Muchipara police station against the market’s owners — Sailen Saha, Ratan Saha and Manick Saha and manager Debashish Banerjee — alleging violation of fire safety norms. Besides, charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and attempt of culpable homicide were added to the case after a forensic experts inspected the fire-ravaged building and collected samples.
Vice-president of Surya Sen Market Cooperative Society Sushanta Ghose admitted that there was only one entry-cum-exit route. He added that there was one emergency exit, but it was not in use for the last 15 years.
Questions have started arising how and why the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) allowed the day-to-day affair there.
Mayor Sovan Chatterjee said, “The market complex was amalgamated in 1985-86 when 136 shops were housed. It mostly housed eateries and commercial establishments and godowns. The civic board gave its permission for the construction of basement, ground floor plus four floors.”
He added, “Moreover, the market complex building was properly sanctioned and also given the mutation certificate. The KMC records says that the market authorities had applied for renewal of the licences.”
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