How safe are children’s gaming zones in Chandigarh? Here’s a reality check

A senior Fire Department official said the use of flammable material in the equipment makes these gaming zones fire-prone. “Not every equipment-making company uses fire-resistant material. Moreover, when all the games are on, there is overloading and that can lead to short-circuiting,” he said.

He added organisers have to be careful that flammable material should not be kept as plastic synthetic used in these games are flammable making it more fire-prone.

Funcity at Elante Mall

Funcity, which caters to kids of ages up to 10-11 years and sees the maximum rush from across the region, did not have proper fire safety in place except for “cosmetic appearance”. The switches with which the power-driven games were connected showed loose wires entangled and lying unattended within the reach of the children coming here.

Even though boards of “play by the rules” were installed at entry points of “Big rides” “Fun swing” and “Kiddie rides, little attention seems to have been paid to the connections powering all these games. This reporter also saw two security guards struggling with the main switch at the entrance towards the left side.

However, fire extinguishers could be seen placed at various points in the area. Apart from this, the front area is wide and open, making it easier for people and children to rush in case of a fire.

Parents’ concerns

A parent visiting the gaming zone told The Indian Express there should be trained attendants with each of these electricity-run games, especially during summers when the chance of short-circuiting and fires breaking out is high.

“At least the attendant can guide parents to be careful about certain things as all of these games are all electricity run,” said the parent on the condition of anonymity adding how fluctuations due to summer load enhance the chances of short-circuiting.

“Moreover, the wires connecting power switches shouldn’t be within reach. The thing is once you have paid here after that no one pays attention and you are all by yourself…so this is one point they should be careful about,” he said.

An official spokesperson of Nexus Elante told The Indian Express, “We continue to take all precautionary and safety measures in line with guidelines of the Chandigarh Administration. Safety audits are carried out at the mall regularly, going beyond the stipulated norms.”

“The incident in Rajkot is extremely devastating and deeply concerning. We are working closely with the administration and shall follow all norms laid down by the authority as well as take action necessitated to safeguard customers and retail partners of the mall,” said the spokesperson.

Game Palacio and The Playmill

The situation was no different at Game Palacio, which is touted as India’s first house boutique bowling, fine dining, gaming arcade, and lounge. At the gaming zone for grown-ups, there were loose wires connected to the switches with no attendant in sight to ensure no one touched them. The extinguishers were not in immediate sight.

Game Palacio

The Playmill, another key play zone at Sector 8, Madhya Marg, sees children from the Tricity flocking to it. At noon, the gaming zone for children up to seven years already had over 30 kids enjoying games with their parents.

At the zone, called the “largest indoor play centre for kids in Chandigarh Tricity”, a staircase leads to a deep basement which was decked up with blue balloons for a birthday party. Though the staircase is towards the rear side, it is too narrow to accommodate the rush in case a fire breaks out. An attendant at the spot said it is for those who want to use the washroom.

During her visit to the game zone, this reporter did not find any sandbags, specific markings of the entry and exit zone, or proper guidelines on what to do in case of a fire.

However, an attendant said “all fire safety arrangements are very much in place” at the gaming zone, which opened in 2019. He added, “A fire inspection took place only last year in August.”

Missing safety aspects, authority speak

Vinod Vashisht, Convener, City Forum of Residents’ Welfare Organisations (CFORWO), said fire safety compliance “should not be good enough” for places of entertainment like gaming zones, amusement parks, circuses, cable cars, etc.

“There are other safety aspects that need also to be complied with relating to the use of ropes, hoists, scaffolding, rails, lifts, trolleys, and nature of materials and equipment employed in such facilities. Licensing authorities should be ready with all necessary certification processes from competent persons, SOPs and do’s and don’ts which must include periodic mock drills,” Vashisht told The Indian Express.

“Considering the increasing incidents of fire, the fire department should ensure actual on-ground fire safety checks at all such places,” he added.

While speaking to The Indian Express Chandigarh Mayor Kuldeep Kumar said, “While these prominent buildings do have NOCs with system in place, there should be special intensified checks by the fire department, especially in summers considering tragic incidents taking place”.

Anindita Mitra, Commissioner, Chandigarh civic body, told The Indian Express, “We shall get repeated fire safety inspections done at all such gaming zones.”