Fire dept gives Ram temple ‘unsafe’ tag

The disputed Ram Janmabhoomi site is under threat, this time not from the Sangh Parivar activists but from its own temporary constructions and pandals. So claims the recent confidential report of the Uttar Pradesh Fire Department. The report says the constructions are dangerous not only for the pilgrims but also for the security personnel stationed there.

It points out that the temporary constructions and pandals in the area surrounding the temple not only violate the guidelines of the Bureau of Indian Standards but most of the fire extinguishers placed there have had their licences cancelled by the BIS long time back. The inspection was made on May 26 and the report, marked ‘‘most urgent’’, submitted on May 30. Despite this, the authorities concerned have not taken any action. When contacted, none of the officials concerned was ready to come on record.

R.S. Tripathi, fire officer at the disputed site, said, ‘‘The inspection was done on May 26 by the department but no changes have taken place till this date.’’

The report details various points on the basis of which the site has been termed ‘unsafe’. It says at various places the joints in the electric wires are open and the switch-gears have been installed on wooden panels. As a result, they are prone to catching fire due to an electric spark. Not only this, a major section of the pilgrim pathway passes through the pandal and since fencing has been done to control the crowd, there is no escape route for trapped people in case of a structural collapse.