Following the devastating fire at Devgiri Fort on April 8, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has demanded stringent safety measures, including a complete ban on flammable items like cigarettes, lighters, and matchboxes within the fort premises. The blaze, which affected significant portions of the fort and harmed wildlife such as monkeys, has raised alarm over the lack of fire safety protocols at the historic site.
A delegation from INTACH submitted a formal memorandum to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, highlighting the urgent need for preventive action. The heritage conservation group pointed out that grass growing on the terrace of the Baradari—an upper structure of the fort—caught fire, which then spread to wooden sections, escalating the damage.
INTACH has called for regular removal of dry grass and trees from key areas of the fort, especially before summer, along with cleanliness drives to eliminate plastic waste and other fire hazards. The memorandum stressed the importance of thorough security checks at entry points to stop visitors from bringing flammable materials.
They further proposed restrictions on plastic bottles and strict enforcement of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006. To manage emergency situations more efficiently, INTACH also recommended the creation and maintenance of access pathways for water tankers within the fort.
The 9th-century Devgiri Fort, also known as Daulatabad Fort, was once the capital of the Yadava Dynasty and remains a major tourist attraction near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. The recent fire incident has sparked serious concern over heritage preservation and disaster preparedness at India’s historical landmarks.
