Despite possessing a valid fire certification, doubts are being raised regarding the suitability of the unit’s firefighting equipment for handling inflammable products and materials used in the manufacturing process
Questions are being raised about the fire preparedness of NR Aroma, a perfume manufacturing unit located in the Jharmajri area of Barotiwala, have emerged following a devastating fire that occurred on 2nd February. Tragically, the unfortunate incident claimed the lives of five workers, while five others remain missing.
Despite possessing a valid fire certification, doubts are being raised regarding the suitability of the unit’s firefighting equipment for handling inflammable products and materials used in the manufacturing process. Santosh Sharma, Commandant of the Home Guards in Solan, disclosed that while the factory held a valid fire certification, an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire outbreak.
Several shortcomings in the unit’s fire safety measures have come to light, including the absence of alternative exit stairs on each floor, reliance on the same exit and entrance points, and a lack of preparedness exercises to address such emergencies.
Other concerns are regarding town and country planning (TCP) norms appear to have been blatantly violated, severely limiting firefighting capabilities within the building in the event of a mishap. This incident underscores a broader trend of neglect regarding fire safety protocols within industrial units in the region.
A survey conducted by the Fire Department in 2022 revealed shocking statistics, indicating that 462 out of approximately 4,000 industrial units operating in Solan district, including the crucial Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial hub, lacked the mandatory fire certification. Despite previous fire incidents in the area prompting scrutiny, little action has been taken to address these deficiencies.
The Fire Department’s comprehensive eight-month-long assessment identified these lapses, prompting officials to notify relevant authorities, including the Departments of Industries and Police, as well as the BBN Development Authority. However, the lack of penal provisions in the Himachal Pradesh Fire Act has hindered punitive action against non-compliant industries.
An earlier study conducted in 2015 by a committee chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the BBN Development Authority revealed similarly alarming findings. Thirty percent of the 720 industrial units examined were deemed ill-equipped to handle fire incidents, with approximately 5 per cent identified as particularly vulnerable due to inadequate safety measures. Moreover, over 700 units lacked permanent fire safety certificates, operating instead with provisional certificates obtained at their inception.
The tragic incident at NR Aroma serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stricter adherence to fire safety regulations and robust enforcement mechanisms to prevent future tragedies in industrial settings across Solan district and beyond.
