‘Faulty circuit sparked fire’

Stating that the existing fire safety system had worked during the fire,the report says,“It has been established that the fire originated in the electrical wiring in the bedroom of flat number 121. It further ignited the nearby combustible and flammable materials like cabinets,electric wiring,other electrical and electronic gadgets,furniture and stock of tins of paints and thinner,” the fire report states.

The fire brigade also said notices would be issued to residents of the building and owners of the flats for fire-safety violations. “It may be noted that the building failed to submit a bi-annual fire audit report to the brigade in June and January this year for which action will be taken against the residents,” said deputy chief fire officer S A Kale.

The report also says that the access roads to the building compound and the open space in front of the building were too narrow for fire-engines to enter and so hampered effective fire-fighting. Moreover,norms such as a second staircase for high-rises and a sprinkler system within each flat have been ignored,it adds.

“Since the building has already been constructed,a second staircase cannot be included now as remedial action. The notices we serve to the residents will be restricted to the storage of combustible material and gas cylinders in the flats,which are in violation of fire-safety norms,” said a fire official.

The civic administration is now probing whether the owners of flat no. 121 had obtained the permission for undertaking renovation work. The flat had recently been bought by a new owner. Five people were were rescued from the flat,according to fire officials.

In the report,fire officials have also prohibited residents from parking cars in the open space around the building. “The parking of the cars and other vehicles should not be allowed and strictly prohibited in the compulsory open space around the building and shall be kept free from the encumbrances for the easy movement of fire engine in case of an emergency”,the deputy chief fire officer has stated in the report.

The BMC has also directed the residents to install smoke detectors and fire alarm system in the building. The residents have also been asked to remove chairs,wooden furniture and LPG cylinders kept in the lift lobby,corridor,staircase as well as in space between lift lobby and ventilation block immediately.

sharvari.patwa@expressindia.com

alison.saldanha@expressindia.com