The fire in Jhansi underscores a broader issue: India’s fire safety infrastructure is severely under-resourced
A devastating fire at a hospital in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, last month claimed the lives of 11 newborn babies, leaving the nation in shock and grief. This tragedy has brought to light the critical lapses in fire safety standards across the country, particularly in hospitals. An investigation by The Indian Express revealed that fire safety regulations have often been ignored in institutions where fires have occurred over the last five years.
Despite fire safety measures being mandatory, systemic issues like corruption in obtaining fire no-objection certificates have left the system fundamentally flawed. This is not an isolated incident; India has witnessed numerous fire outbreaks in hospitals, schools, and other public spaces in recent years.
A System Ill-Equipped To Respond
The fire in Jhansi underscores a broader issue: India’s fire safety infrastructure is severely under-resourced. A Rajya Sabha response revealed significant deficits in fire stations, firefighting vehicles, and personnel. According to 2018 data from the Director General (Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards), the country is far from meeting the benchmarks set by the RMSI 2012 report.
Globally, it is recommended to have one firefighter for every 1,000 people. For India’s population of 1.4 billion, this translates to 1.8 million firefighters. However, the country has only about 300,000, leaving a shortfall of 1.5 million firefighters. Uttar Pradesh leads the states with the highest deficit, lacking 79,866 firefighters, followed by Bihar (44,528) and Maharashtra (42,838).
The shortage of equipment further exacerbates the issue. Uttar Pradesh requires an additional 4,155 fire trucks, while Bihar and Maharashtra are short by 2,775 and 2,640, respectively. Across India, states on average are missing 707 fire trucks.
Inadequate Fire Stations
Fire stations, critical for rapid response during emergencies, are also in short supply. Maharashtra faces the largest shortfall with 917 stations missing, followed by Rajasthan (748) and Bihar (543). On average, states are short by 144 fire stations. These gaps result in delayed response times, reducing the chances of saving lives during emergencies.
Impact On Public Safety
The lack of adequate fire safety measures directly impacts the lives of millions. In densely populated states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra, the risks are magnified. Fires in hospitals, schools, or crowded markets can escalate quickly, and without a robust system, the response often comes too late. Smaller states like Goa and Lakshadweep fare better but are not immune to risks.
Urgent Need For Action
The Jhansi tragedy serves as a wake-up call for authorities to prioritise investments in fire safety infrastructure. Improved funding, stricter enforcement of regulations, and the establishment of more fire stations are imperative to prevent such incidents in the future. As the Jhansi fire painfully demonstrated, every second counts in saving lives, and the current state of fire safety in India leaves much to be desired.
