Sector 22 blaze exposes major fire safety violations

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Chandigarh: The fire incident in the Sector 22 commercial hub has brought issues of fire safety and the role of the UT administration as well as MC to the fore. The building, which caught fire on Tuesday, reportedly had no fire exit and was equipped with only a single passage for entry and exit.
As thick smoke engulfed the structure, four employees trapped on the second floor were forced to break a window and climb down a wooden ladder from the rear of the building. Their escape was made possible by quick thinking and external assistance, which averted a major tragedy.
“The staircase was completely blocked with smoke and fire. We had no choice but to break the glass and escape through the back with the help of a wooden ladder, climbing down 25 feet,” said Tanu, one of the trapped employees.
The situation has underlined the perils of repeated negligence of fire safety norms in commercial spaces. Despite multiple fire incidents in the past, officials have seemingly failed to enforce strict compliance, as evidenced by the lack of a fire exit and emergency evacuation plan in the building.

MC joint commissioner Shashi Vasundhra said, “The incident is being thoroughly investigated. Officials have been directed to submit a report on whether a valid fire NoC (no objection certificate) was issued to the building. Strict action will be taken based on the the findings, as per the Municipal Corporation Act.”
Congested parking in the area added to the chaos, severely hampering firefighting operations. Firefighters struggled to position their vehicles due to illegally or poorly parked cars, delaying efforts to douse the flames. Notably, no car owners came forward to move their vehicles, complicating access for emergency services.
The MC has once again called for strict enforcement of fire safety regulations, mandatory fire audits, and establishment of proper emergency exits in all commercial buildings, said J C Vasundhara. A detailed inquiry into the incident and safety compliance status of the building is currently underway.