Editorial
Unsafe mega malls
How prepared are we before another fire strikes?
It doesn't seem that enough is being done to prevent another Bansundhara as one can make out from reports appearing in this newspaper regarding the state of preparedness of at least 5 major shopping complexes in the capital, to prevent and fight fire adequately.
Admittedly, everyone since the big fire has become more aware of the hazards of fire in high-rise buildings, but whether or not the awareness has worked towards motivating the relevant persons to act promptly is quite another matter.
We do not know yet the damages in terms of money in the Basundhara fire, but one shudders to think what might have been had it not been a Friday and the corporate offices on the top floors empty. We are thus constrained to ask as to what specific steps have been taken after the Basundhara complex fire, to ensure on one hand that the chances of outbreak of fire in the many large malls in city, were reduced to the minimum and, on the other, that measures were in place to tackle fire so that it causes the least damage to life and property.
We notice with dismay that except for some perfunctory actions like a drill here and a drill there, which of course is an essential element of fire safety preparedness, little of substance has been initiated by the relevant authorities to head off fire across the board.
We understand that all the shortcomings cannot be made up overnight, but the moot point is, are the people in places of responsibility aware of the shortcomings, particularly those that have built mega shopping complexes without really bothering about public safety?
No doubt it is the government that must take the lead. The relevant departments must initiate an inspection drive to determine the status of the firefighting system of each of the high-rise buildings in the city. Reportedly, while many of these buildings do not have adequate firefighting arrangements, many of those that have installed the system do not have them in functioning conditions. In some cases either the fire alarms are out of order or the foam or gas dispensers empty or the date of refilling those has expired many months back. And what good will come of a most modern system if those that are assigned the task of using it are not trained to do so.
The matter brooks no delay. The government must ensure that appropriate measures are undertaken by all concerned, and failure to comply with the stipulations after a particular time must be dealt with severely.
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