‘Studios need adequate fire-safety measures’

Monday’s fire that gutted the century-old Bharat Laxmi film studio in Kolkata,has led to growing voices about the need for adequate fire-safety norms in the film studios across the city.

Some of the workers,who regularly shuttle between several studios involved with television and film productions,say that nearly all the studios face similar appalling conditions that plagued the gutted studio. “Concrete measures should be taken by the government immediately. Checks should be carried out across the studios and directives should be implemented to maintain proper fire-safety measures,” said a floor manager preferring anonymity.

A fire official,who supervised Monday’s operations,said that studio’s floors lacked basic electric circuiting and the sets contained highly inflammable articles. “If we were not provided with water supply from adjoining high rise buidlings,the fire could have been devastating,” said the fireman.