New Delhi: At least 32 people, among them 9 children, died in a massive fire that broke out at an amusement park at TRP Game Zone in Gujarat’s Rajkot on 25 May. On the same evening, seven newborns died in a massive fire in the Delhi Children’s hospital.
The back-to-back tragedies exposed several lapses both at the amusement park and the hospital. In the amusement park, a short-circuit was suspected as the cause of the inferno, while the hospital was allegedly operating without a valid licence.
Fires are often reported in India a result of poor building practices, poor record for workplace safety standards, and a lack of adherence to safety regulations among others.
Here are some of the devastating fires reported in the country, with the earliest going way back to 1995.
West Delhi commercial building fire: On 13 May 2022, at least 27 people died and dozens more were injured after a huge fire broke out at a four-storey commercial building in Mundka. At that time, around 200 people were present in the building and highly combustible material aggravated the blaze. Moreover, a narrow passage posed even more challenges.
Kerala temple fire: A packed temple in Kerala’s Kollam district caught fire due to fireworks display, killing at least 111 people on 10 April 2016. The police said that the fire began during a Hindu new year festival, after a stray firework fell onto a pyrotechnic storeroom, causing a series of explosions. An entire dump of fire crackers was stored in a single place and exploded when it caught fire, killing over 40 people instantly, resulting in extensive damage to surrounding buildings.
Tamil Nadu fireworks factory fire: Thirty-nine people perished and over 50 people were injured after a massive fire broke out in the Om Shakti fireworks factory at Mudalipatti village in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district on 5 September 2012. Neither fire rescuers nor ambulances could reach the spot due to the huge quantity of chemicals stacked, it was reported.
Kolkata AMRI hospital fire: Tragedy struck at the AMRI hospital in Kolkata when 93 people died due to suffocation after a fire broke out there on 9 December 2011. Soon after the fire started at the basement, carbon monoxide spread in the hospital through the air-conditioning system, causing the deaths at the private hospital.
Kumbakonam school fire: Ninety-four children lost their lives in a blaze at a school in Kumbakonam, about 320 km southwest of Chennai, on 16 July 2004. The fire started in the school kitchen, where food was being prepared on a log fire. The blaze trapped hundreds of children as it spread through the three-storey building. Firefighters had to break down the concrete structure because the only way into the classroom was a single staircase, according to a report.
Padmapriya marriage hall fire: Celebrations turned into mourning when 62 people, including the bridegroom, died in a massive fire that broke out at a marriage in Tamil Nadu’s Srirangam on 23 January 2004. The inferno broke out owing to the intense heat generated by the video flashgun, setting on fire the decorative materials on the thatched roof of the pandal. An investigation found that a short circuit in the electric wire connecting the video camera set the roof on fire.
Moideen Badusha Home fire: On 6 August 2001, 28 inmates were charred to death at the mental home located in Erwadi village of Tamil Nadu. The entire thatched shelter was gutted in 10 minutes, before fire tenders reached the spot. The victims were unable to save themselves as they were bound by chains, according to media reports.
Uphaar Film fire: Fifty-nine lives were cut short in a devastating blaze at Delhi’s Uphaar hall that broke out during the screening of a film on 13 June 1997. Most of the victims died due to suffocation after the fire broke out in an electric transformer. It was found later that one of the two transformers had caught fire in the morning but a quick repair was done. The repair, however, was not done properly and soon the transformer caught fire again after one of its cables came loose.
Baripada congregation fire: About 180 people perished in a massive fire that broke out during a religious congregation at Odisha’s Baripada, on 23 February 1997. Press Trust of India reported at that time that an electrical short-circuit was the reason behind the fire.
Rajiv Marriage Palace fire: Over 500 people were killed, mostly children, and over 300 were injured at a private marriage hall in Haryana’s Sirsa district on 23 December 1995. The inferno was caused by an electric malfunction on the roof of the pandal that led to the fire quickly engulfing the entire nylon fabric of the pandal when the Annual Day Function of the DAV School was being celebrated at the venue.
(Edited by Tony Rai)