State cannot wait for a major tragedy: HHRC’s observation on fire safety gaps

The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken suo-motu cognisance of a major fire incident that occurred at a multi-storeyed hotel in Hisar and has expressed serious concern regarding the condition of fire safety systems, emergency evacuation mechanisms and rescue infrastructure in high-rise buildings across the state.

The Full Commission comprising Justice Lalit Batra, Chairperson, and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia has initiated detailed proceedings on the basis of a newspaper report. According to the report, the fire allegedly erupted from the basement kitchen area of a hotel in Hisar and rapidly engulfed several floors of the building. During the incident, a female employee was trapped inside the premises and was compelled to jump from the second floor in an attempt to save her life. Local residents rescued her using a blanket, as a result of which she sustained serious injuries. The incident also reportedly involved explosions of several air-conditioning units, causing extensive damage to the hotel premises.

The Haryana Human Rights Commission has observed that prima facie, the incident exposes serious deficiencies in fire safety standards, emergency evacuation systems and disaster management preparedness in multi-storeyed commercial establishments within the state. The Commission particularly expressed concern over the fact that, in the apparent absence of a professional rescue mechanism, an individual had to risk her life by jumping from the building to escape the fire.

In its order, the Commission observed that modern urban areas require the mandatory availability of advanced fire-fighting and rescue equipment, such as Hydraulic Platforms and Turn Table Ladders in multi-storeyed buildings, hotels, commercial complexes and densely populated areas. Such equipments play a crucial role in ensuring rapid access to upper floors, safe evacuation and effective rescue operations during emergencies.

The order further noted that the Haryana Human Rights Commission is already seized of the broader issue relating to the procurement and operationalization of Hydraulic Platforms and Turn Table Ladders in Suo-Motu Case No.1000/3/2022. In the said matter, the Commission had earlier categorically observed that such equipments constitute an indispensable component of modern urban safety infrastructure and that the absence of such systems could seriously compromise public safety and disaster preparedness.

Referring to its earlier observations, the Commission stated that Hydraulic Platforms are not merely fire-fighting equipment, but essential emergency evacuation and life-saving mechanisms for multi-storeyed buildings. The Commission had also observed that such infrastructure should be viewed within the framework of “external development works” under the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975, as modern fire safety infrastructure is indispensable for planned and safe urban development.

The Commission further expressed concern that the procurement and operationalisation of such equipment has remained delayed for several years and that the State ought not to wait for a major tragedy before taking timely and effective measures. The Commission observed that the Hisar incident reinforces the very apprehensions and concerns previously recorded by it.

In its order, the Commission also referred to a recent major fire tragedy in Hong Kong, where several lives were reportedly lost despite the existence of advanced technological and urban infrastructure.

Considering the seriousness of the matter, the Haryana Human Rights Commission has asked Chief Secretary to the Government of Haryana, to submit a comprehensive report outlining policy-level decisions, allocation of funds, inter-departmental coordination, the present status of procurement and operationalization of Hydraulic Platforms and Turn Table Ladders, and a clear time-bound action plan for strengthening fire-fighting and emergency rescue infrastructure in Haryana, particularly for multi-storeyed and high-rise buildings.

Additional Chief Secretary, Town and Country Planning and Urban Estates Department, Chandigarh; and Director General, Town and Country Planning Department, have been asked about the policy framework relating to installation and operationalisation of Hydraulic Platforms and Turn Table Ladders in urban areas and the status of consideration for inclusion of such mechanisms within the scope of “external development works” under the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975.

The Director General, Fire and Emergency Services, Haryana, Panchkula, has been asked to submit a separate detailed report indicating the present status of procurement and operationalization of Hydraulic Platforms and Turn Table Ladders in Haryana and district-wise availability and deployment capacity of advanced fire-fighting and aerial rescue equipment.