Fire & rescue department issues show-cause notices to 112 buildings in Madurai

MADURAI: Fire and rescue services has issued show-cause notices to 112 commercial buildings in and around Masi Streets in Madurai city after an inspection by its officials found various shortcomings in fire safety.

Officials from the fire and rescue department said that at least 500 buildings were inspected by separate teams in the last one week. Director of fire and rescue department M S Jaffar Sait had instructed officials in all the districts in the state to carry out such inspections and find out buildings, which are non-compliant to fire safety standards.

The drive was initiated in the wake of the recent fire accident in the city, in which two firefighters lost their lives in line of duty. The firefighters died while extinguishing fire at a textile store in Navabathkhana Street near Vilakkuthoon on November 14.

K Kalyana Kumar, Madurai district fire officer, said, “The inspection is still going on. Two assistant district fire officers from other districts have also joined the operation. The show-cause notices were served on buildings lacking fire safety equipment, alternative exit and those with old and faulty electric line.”

Another official said that mostly buildings, which are more than 40 years old and large shops in narrow lanes, are also being checked. They also met Madurai Corporation commissioner urging the corporation to take action against buildings that are not stable. He said, “Only corporation officials are competent to look after the stability of a structure. The unstable buildings should be brought down.”

The corporation officials have also initiated an inspection to check the stability of old buildings in Masi Streets and nearby streets. Notices have been served to weak structures. So far, 25 such buildings were brought down, said the official.