After Surat fire tragedy, lens on coaching centres in Twin City

Bhubaneswar/ Cuttack: After the tragic Surat fire mishap in which over 20 students were killed and several injured, concerns are now being expressed over the existing fire safety norms at several coaching centres in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

Whether the coaching centres have obtained the necessary fire safety certificates and whether existing fire safety guidelines are being followed or not is now under the scanner.

"How far the new fire safety rules have been implemented needs to be thoroughly reviewed," said retired Odisha Fire Services official, Rasbihari Mohanty.

According to reports, several private coaching centres are operating from high-rise buildings in Bhubaneswar. Though some of them have installed fire safety equipment, such measures are not adequate and need to be reviewed by the officials of fire services department, demanded local residents.

The students too have demanded adequate fire safety measures to ensure that there is no re-run of the horrific Surat tragedy in any part of Odisha.

"We want that coaching centres should install all the necessary fire safety equipment for the safety of students," said a student.