People have a bad tendency to use lifts for reaching the first floor and while going to the ground floor from the second floor. Seven people died due to suffocation after being trapped in the elevator of a high-rise residential building in Powai. The smoke from the fire, passed through elevator shaft thereby suffocating the stranded residents. All the deceased were found in the elevator lift of the 21 storied building. Due to emergency situation people forgot that they were not supposed to use the elevator when there is a fire emergency. One flat has been completely damaged in the incident while two others were partially affected. The incident comes only a month after a major fire broke out in a building in Kalbadevi where four senior officers of Mumbai fire brigade department, including the chief fire officer, died.
One must avoid using lifts during fire incidents. Housing societies should strictly follow this message which can rescue several lives during emergencies. Air conditioners must undergo servicing once in a year. Recently, a committee was formed in the aftermath of Kalbadevi fire incident. They suggested buildings must conduct electrical audits every year. Our ward officers are quite negligent. They don’t check to see for what purpose the building is occupied by inhabitants and whether any hazardous substances are being stored there which may prove fatal.
Firemen should undergo yearly health check ups and BMC officials should also undertake such tests once in two years. Those people who are willing to volunteer should be imparted training in fire-fighting, fire prevention and provide first aid to the victims. The TV channels should air informative shows to create more awareness among citizens. It is heartening to note that some good natured people came out for evacuation and rescue purposes. Youths must be mobilized and training should be imparted to them in firefighting operations.
Servicing of window ACs should be carried out once in a year. Its filters and coils should be cleaned for avoiding respiratory diseases. We must train our citizens to become socially responsible. This is the one aspect which we are lacking. Cooking gas agencies should create awareness among citizens about fire hazards and how to address them effectively. TV channels should broadcast these videos. It should be made mandatory for them to air the safety video of 20 minutes duration at least once in a month.