Fire safety deadline to curb mishaps

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Fire Services on Wednesday served notices to 26 commercial establishments in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Twin City to comply with prescribed fire safety norms within two months or face action.

Twenty six malls, jewellery stores and hotels in the Twin City lack adequate fire safety measures as per the Odisha Fire Safety and Fire Prevention Rules, 2017. The discrepancy of each commercial establishment has been mentioned separately in the notice and they have been asked to rectify.

If the deficiencies are not corrected within the stipulated deadline of two months, the Odisha Fire Services will conduct a raid again and take appropriate action against the defaulters, informed Fire Services DG BK Sharma.

"After the inspection carried out in all the malls and jewellery stores, we found some severe lapses and notices to comply with fire safety norms within two months has been served. Another inspection will be carried after two months and if the measures taken are not satisfactory then action will be taken as per law," said Sharma.

"We have received a notice due to lack of fire safety measures and asked to comply. We will complete the necessary works for improving fire safety within the stipulated timeframe," said Manager of Kalyan Jewellers, Nishant.

Earlier this month, officials of Odisha Fire Services had conducted a fire safety audit at various commercial establishments in the Twin City and also sealed basements of two hotels for not adhering to the rules. The notice has come as a warning to other erring establishments.