×

UPSC Courses

DNA banner

DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

  • 10 March, 2021

  • 5 Min Read

Fire accidents

Fire accidents

Introduction

  • The blaze in the Eastern Railway headquarters in Kolkata on the evening of March 8, which killed at least nine people, is particularly egregious because it took place in a modern multi-storeyed special building.
  • The fire accident has also taken the lives of a group of first responders, including four firefighters, a police officer and some railway staff.
  • Apparently anxious to intervene, a group of personnel lost sight of their own safety and tried to speed up to the top floor of the building in a lift, perishing in the fire and smoke.
  • The computerised booking system of the railway was paralysed.

Reason:

  • The problem of adopting an incremental approach to safety.
    • The building blocks of safety rely as much on modern technologies, as on preparedness, although Indian cities give short shrift to both.
  • Official certifications that are not worth the paper they are printed on substitute for actual enforcement.
    • Using the Kolkata railway building as a test case, the Centre should report on whether it met the fire safety norms prescribed in the National Building Codes.
  • Smoke alarms and sprinkler systems are inexpensive early warning and intervention measures but are not universally adopted.

NCRB Data:

  • NCRB data for 2019, the fire accidents stand at a staggering 10,915,

Steps to be taken

  • To review the progress of the Model Bill of 2019 to Provide for the Maintenance of Fire and Emergency Services of a State, which is aimed at modernisation.
  • To make a fire safety upgrade for public buildings in a mission mode plan.
  • Bringing such structures under the purview of public liability insurance, paid for by the respective departments, will provide enough incentive for their occupants to incorporate safety in all planning.
  • Involve third-party audits.
  • Drills for offices and multi-storeyed residential buildings will eliminate uncertainty and confusion among people on what must be done when disaster actually strikes.

Way ahead

  • Safety training and technological fixes can cut the massive death toll from fires each year
  • Safety favours only those who are prepared.

Source: TH


Anti-Defection Law in India

The Supreme Court of India recently gave a final three-week deadline to the Telangana Assembly Speaker to decide pending disqualification petitions against defecting MLAs under the Anti-Defection Law. What is the Anti-Defection Law? The Anti-Defection Law was introduced through the 52nd Amendment (1985), which added the Tenth Schedule to the

Rat-Hole Mining

A major disaster unfolded in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, when at least 18 workers died following an explosion in an illegally operating rat-hole coal mine. This incident highlights the continued prevalence of rat-hole mining despite bans imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court of India. Rat-hole mining is driven

India’s Aviation Sector

India’s aviation sector has grown rapidly, becoming a major economic success story. However, regulatory oversight has not evolved at the same pace. Data-driven monitoring of fares and market behavior is essential to ensure fair competition, prevent market abuse, and shift from reactive crisis management to proactive regulation. Challen

Federalism in India

Recently, a high-level committee on Union–State relations submitted its first report to the Government of Tamil Nadu. The report examines the distribution of powers and responsibilities between the Union and the States, highlighting ongoing debates regarding the balance between central authority and state autonomy. This discussion is clos

India–UAE Economic Partnership

The relationship between India and the United Arab Emirates has evolved from a traditional energy-based partnership into a comprehensive economic and strategic relationship. Over the years, strong political trust, growing trade, and expanding investments have transformed bilateral ties into a diversified economic corridor. The economic partnership

DNA

22 Mar,2026

Toppers

Search By Date

Newsletter Subscription
SMS Alerts

Important Links

UPSC GS Mains Crash Course - RAW