Fire safety: ‘Purana shehar’ poses multiple challenges, but no easy solutions

Issues like high-tension power cables, narrow lanes leading to high rises, chaotic traffic, haphazard parking of vehicles, violation of building rules and several heritage structures challenges make the task complex and difficult

Hyderabad: While the State government, following the Gulzar Houz fire tragedy in which 17 lives were lost, has constituted a six member committee comprising IAS and IPS officers, to conduct an inquiry and suggest steps to prevent such instances in future, the biggest challenge for the committee is to suggest a solution to prevent such mishaps in the older parts of the city.

Known for buildings constructed 50 to 60 years ago or even more, the ‘purana shehar’ in recent times has witnessed an increase in fire incidents.

“There are several issues here from dangling power cables in commercial complexes to overhead high tension power cables, narrow lanes leading to high rises and chaotic traffic and haphazard parking of vehicles, violation of building rules and heritage structures that have to be dealt with. The biggest task is taking the local people into confidence,” said SQ Masood, a social activist.

The fire officials admit there are sometimes delays in reaching the spot due to the chaotic traffic, narrow roads and labyrinth lanes. When they finally manage to reach, there is no proper access to take up firefighting operations.

“Earlier, there were no guidelines for having setbacks for buildings. So you find here a row of buildings without any spaces in between. One has to climb onto a building to put off the fire in the neighbouring house or the one behind,” said an official of the fire department.

The old city comprises major markets of the city, and disturbing the businesses will draw criticism from the community. “On the ground and first floor, you have shops, and the remaining upper floors are residential flats. In some areas, the old structures in narrow lanes paved the way for multi-storied buildings, and hardly an auto rickshaw can pass through them. The power cables are dangling over the head in several commercial complexes at Pathergatti, Rikabgunj,” pointed out Mohd Akram, a social activist, adding that when any agency tries to streamline things, the local builders and trade associations rush to politicians for help.

MA Kareem Ansari, an RTI activist, said the local officials turn a blind eye to different violations after benefiting in some way or the other way. “At times, the local leaders convince the officials to keep quiet and finish the matter,” he said.

Several vintage structures

Several houses constructed during the Nizam era had large open compounds in which new buildings were constructed. The old residential areas have now become dense. The buildings have vintage narrow, round staircases that run from the centre of the house.

“In the Nizam era, the construction was quite different from the designs we see today. So we cannot blame the present occupants for it. The government should devise a strategy to deal with the problem,” said Mohd Safiullah, a heritage activist.

In areas such as Feelkhana, Begum Bazaar, Siddiamber Bazar, Osmangunj, Risala Abdullah, Sultan Bazaar, Devan Dewdi, Madina Building, Chatta Bazaar, Rikab Gunj, Ghansi Bazaar, Chelapura, Shehran Market, Panjeshah, there are numerous shops in commercial cum residential complexes.

Six-member committee to study the topography of localities

The six-member committee constituted by the government have GHMC Commissioner RV Karnan, Hyderabad District Collector, Anudeep Durishetty, Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand, DG Nagi Reddy of Fire Services, HYDRAA Commissioner A V Ranganath and Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited chairman and MD Musharraf Ali Faruqui as its members.
A senior IPS official who is part of the government-appointed committee said they will visit and study the topography of localities, fire safety measures, available firefighting resources in the neighbourhood, and other aspects.

“We will be visiting other cities where old heritage structures and habitats exist, and study the measures initiated by the local municipal and fire authorities there. We will also ask the State government to make necessary amendments in the Fire Safety Act,” said the official.