Notices Issued to B’luru High Rises to Enact Fire Safety Measures

Kamala Mills fire tragedy in Mumbai has intensified the outcry by residents against illegal rooftop pubs and bars

A day after 14 people were killed in Mumbai’s Kamala Mill fire tragedy, senior fire department officials ordered inspections of high-rise buildings in Bengaluru, and MN Reddi, DGP of Police, Department of Fire and Emergency services on Saturday found a number of pubs to be “illegal” and without any fire NOCs. He provided a list of the pubs found to be in violation, including well-known venues, which now have 15 days to implement the measures or face closure.

Fire officers in Bengaluru had been asked to check and report any unauthorised high-rise buildings with terrace pubs and restaurants ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

#BengaluruFireAudit The buildings housing the following pubs in Indiranagar area have been inspected and found to be illegal high rise buildings without any Fire NOC. They have been issued notices to implement fire safety measures within 15 days failing which (1)

— M.N.Reddi, IPS (@DGP_FIRE) December 30, 2017

Orders will be issued to close them:
1. Vapour Pub,
2. PECOS Pub,
3. Humming Tree,
4. Sherlock Pub,
5. Tipsy Bull,
6. Escape Hotel & Spa#BengaluruFireAudit (2/2)

— M.N.Reddi, IPS (@DGP_FIRE) December 30, 2017

A day earlier, Reddi had tweeted that Fire officers would check unauthorised high rises with pubs and restaurants for compliance with fire safety measures.

Directed Fire officers in Bengaluru today to check unauthorised high rise buildings with terrace pubs/restaurants and issue notices to set right fire safety measures or face action.

— M.N.Reddi, IPS (@DGP_FIRE) December 29, 2017

Hours after Reddi tweeted about his instructions to conduct inspections, several citizens responded to him with information about alleged violations in some buildings in the city.

@DGP_FIRE Viginia Mall at Whitefield is flouting all fire safety rule & running restaurant & other commercial activity at terrace which has no fire exit. Pls take necessary action to stop all kind of commercial activity on the terrace of the mall to avoid any untoward incident

— Subhradarshi (@subhseng652) December 29, 2017

Sir, Pl. visit 19th Main, 15th Cross, JP Nagar. 3 Pubs n a Restaurant stacked on top of each other. Lots of crowd n nuisance. Genset in d basement. Accident awaiting 2 happen! Have been pleading with BBMP n Cops 4 CCTV. Pl. act. #KamalaMills #MumbaiFire @Jpnagarbcp @DCPSouthBCP

— JM (@Jayathirtha) December 29, 2017

Resident Complain Against Illegal Buildings

The Kamala Mills fire tragedy in Mumbai has intensified the outcry by residents of several posh localities in Bengaluru against mushrooming rooftop pubs and bars. The citizens have been pressing the administration to act against the commercial activities, especially the pubs, bars and restaurants, in residential areas.

On Friday, Indira Nagar residents gave a representation to Additional Commissioner of Police (East Bengaluru), Seemanth Kumar Singh, seeking direction to not allow any commercial activity in residential areas.

Avoid Rooftop Parties: Fire Department

KU Ramesh, Director of Department of Fire and Emergency Services, said that the department has asked event organisers in the city to avoid New Year’s Eve parties on rooftops. “We have asked the police to convey the information to those approaching police for permission for parties. In Bengaluru, you find many hotels that are more than 50 meters in height. In case of an emergency, evacuating people from the rooftops of such buildings is a tough task,” he said.

Ramesh said that fire tenders will been deployed in multiple locations on MG Road and Brigade Road, were revelers will gather in large numbers on New Year’s Eve. The entire fire force in the city will be deployed in vital points across the city, to address any emergencies, he added.

(With Inputs from PTI)