Fire service staff inspect coaching centres in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR: In the wake of Surat fire tragedy, Odisha fire services on Wednesday conducted simultaneous inspection of leading coaching centres in Balangir (10), Bhawanipatna (10), Angul (8), Jharsuguda (10), Bhadrak (5) and Jeypore (6) to check fire safety measures and create awareness among staff and students of these centres.
“Odisha Fire Service conducted fire safety inspection and awareness drive in coaching centres of the state.As many as 49 teams inspected centres in Jeypore, Bhawanipatna, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Angul and Bhadrak,” tweeted Bijay Kumar Sharma, director general of fire services, home guard and civil defenses.
The fire service personnel found that many coaching centres have not installed adequate fire safety measures. Most of the coaching centres have only one staircase which is inadequate for exit. Electrical panel boards have been installed below staircases which enhances the risk to fire. Most of the corridors of coaching centres have been blocked by stacking of unused articles.
Good housekeeping, which plays a vital role in fire safety, was not found. Moreover many coaching centres do not have adequate exit signage to guide the occupants to places of safety in case of any emergency. These centres will be issued with notices to fulfill the shortcomings within a specific time, said a senior fire service official.
Besides, the fire service personnel sensitized the staff and students for adopting required fire safety measures and gave them useful tips about safety measures.
Earlier, similar inspections were conducted in the coaching centres of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on May 27 and Rourkela, Balasore, Berhampur and Sambalpur on June 1. Department of home had asked director of fire services to inspect all coaching centres across the state.