Page 6 - Fire Safety

Fire breaks out in three coaches of Taj Express in Delhi, no casualties

Four coaches of the Taj Express train caught fire in southeast Delhi's Sarita Vihar on Monday, officials said. "We received a call at 4.24 pm regarding the fire in four coaches of the Taj Express train. Eight fire tenders were pressed into service and efforts to douse the blaze are underway," a Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official said. No reports of any casualties have been received so far, the official said.

Follow fire protocol at hospitals to a T: Union health secy to states

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra on Monday called for strict compliance with fire-safety protocols in a meeting with states and healthcare organisations, citing an increased possibility of fires in hospitals with high temperatures. With the entire northern region reeling under a prolonged heatwave, incidents of fire, including in forests, are increasingly being reported. Several of these fire incidents were reported to be caused by short circuits which happened due to sub-optimal electrical maintenance and/or overload of electricity lines with heavy use of air-conditioners and other equipment. "Given the potential risks associated with fire hazards in hospitals, it is imperative that strict protocols and measures be put in place to prevent, detect and respond to fires effectively. "Establishing a robust fire safety plan and conducting fire-evacuation and safety drills will not only ensure compliance with regulatory requirements but also safeguard lives and property," Chandra .

Firefighters battle wildfires across drought-stricken areas of Florida

Firefighters across central and southern Florida are battling wildfires that have temporarily shut down highways and caused some residents to be evacuated. On Sunday, firefighters in Pompano Beach said they found a "badly charred body" after they doused a brush fire. Officials said they couldn't determine whether the person was male or female. Firefighters said some people had been living in camps in the wooded area, but weren't sure if the victim had been living there. The cause of the fire and the death are being investigated. More than 900 acres had burned near Osteen in Volusia County as of Sunday, although the Florida Forest Service said the fire is now 90 per cent contained. The fire broke out on Saturday and may have been sparked by the remains of an earlier wildfire, Volusia County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Scott Smoak told WESH-TV. Most of central and southern Florida are currently experiencing drought conditions, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center, with

Massive fire at Delhi's Kashmere Gate police station; records, files gutted

Case files, records and documents of investigating officers were gutted at a police station here as a fire ripped through its 15 rooms and also spread to the office of the metro deputy commissioner of police on its premises, according to officials. There was no casualty in the incident at the Kashmiri Gate Metro Police Station, they said and added that the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received a call about it at 12:45 am on Saturday. Police said due to the efforts of fire-fighters the portion of the "malkhaana" that stored arms, ammunition and case properties was not damaged in the blaze. There were 15 police personnel in the barracks when the fire broke out and all of them managed to exit safely, the officials said. Besides the rooms of the police station, 18 rooms of the office of the metro deputy commissioner of police (DCP) were also gutted, they said. Twelve fire tenders were deployed and it took an hour and a half to douse the fire, DFS said and added that cooling operations we

Puri fire incident: Toll mounts to four; 26 others undergoing treatment

The death toll in the firecracker explosion in Odisha's Puri mounted to four on Friday after another person succumbed to injuries, a senior official said. Three persons, including a minor, had died and 33 others were injured after a stockpile of firecrackers exploded during Lord Jagannath's Chandan Jatra festival in Puri on Wednesday evening. Another injured person has died in hospital, while 26 others were undergoing treatment, a statement issued by the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered an administrative-level inquiry into the incident, and announced ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased. The Collector, Puri has already taken steps for payment of Rs 4 lakh each towards ex-gratia assistance to the next of kin of 4 deceased persons, the SRC statement said. An additional chief secretary-level officer of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Satyabrata Sahu, who is also the special relief ...

Delhi fire dept got over 200 calls on May 29, highest so far this year

Fire-related calls surged to 180 on Wednesday recording a nearly three-fold rise over the single-day calls received by the Delhi Fire Service, with officials attributing the increase to heatwave conditions prevailing in the national capital. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received 220 calls, including 183 fire-related, on Wednesday, the highest so far this year, officials said. The remaining calls were related to bird and animal rescue. From January 1 to May 26, the department received 8,912 fire-related calls, according to the data shared by the DFS on Monday. "We received 183 calls fire-related 24 hours, ending midnight of May 29," DFS chief Atul Garg said. This was the highest single-day calls recorded so far this year. Usually, we receive almost 150 calls in the whole summer season -- 60 are fire-related and the remaining are related to animal rescue. But this time there is a three-fold rise," he said. With the temperature soaring in the city and hovering near the 50-degree Cel

Delhi fire dept gets 200 plus calls on May 29, highest so far this year

The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received over 200 calls, including 183 fire-related, on Wednesday, the highest so far this year, officials said. From January 1 to May 26, they received 8,912 fire-related calls, according to the data shared by the DFS on Monday. We received 183 calls fire-related class in 24 hours, ending midnight of May 29, DFS chief Atul Garg said. "This was the highest single-day calls recorded so far in this year." With the temperature soaring in the city and hovering near the 50-degree Celsius mark, Delhi is seeing a rise in fire-related incidents, claiming several lives. According to the data, fire has taken 55 lives and injured more than 300 people in the national capital so far this year. Sixteen people were killed in fire-related incidents in January, another 16 in February, 12 in March, four in April, and seven till May 26, it said. On May 26, a fire tragedy at Baby Care New Born Hospital in east Delhi's Vivek Vihar area claimed the lives of six newborns a

15 injured as firecrackers explode during Lord Jagannath's festival in Puri

Fifteen people received burn injuries after a heap of firecrackers exploded during Lord Jagannath's Chandan Jatra festival in Odisha's Puri on Wednesday night, police said. Hundreds of people had gathered on the banks of Narendra Pushkarinee, a waterbody, to witness the rituals when the accident happened, they said. A group of devotees were celebrating the festival with crackers. Suddenly, a splinter from the burning crackers struck the heap, leading to the explosion, they added. The burning crackers then hit the people gathered at the spot, and some of them, even jumped into the waterbody to save themselves, police said. The injured persons were admitted to the district hospital, and the conditions of four of them were critical, a doctor said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the incident and directed officials concerned to ensure proper treatment of the injured. He said the cost of the treatment would be borne by the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

1,038 forest fires reported this summer in Himachal, 38 FIRs registered

Twenty-five forest fires were reported in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, taking the number of such blazes during this summer season to 1,038 so far, officials said. Property worth about Rs 3 crore has been damaged, they said. However, no casualty was reported, said Assistant Chief Conservator of Forests Pushpinder Rana. "We have over 3,000 local field officers and holidays of staff have been cancelled," he told PTI, adding that 18,000 volunteers of the state disaster management authority are rendering help and 'aapada mitra' (volunteers for disaster response) have also come forward to help the forest department in dousing the fire. "So far 38 FIRs have been registered and 600 complaints have been given to the police for investigation and action against offenders, and we have also asked the general public to share photos and videos if they see someone lighting fire in the forests," he added. Himachal Pradesh's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Rajiv Kumar attributed the forest

MCD issues fire advisory to health facilities, asks for report by May 31

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has issued an advisory to prevent fire incidents in health facilities here and asked for an action taken report by May 31. The advisory comes after a fire at a private children's hospital in East Delhi on Saturday night killed six newborns. The civic body has directed the in-charges of all health facilities under its jurisdiction to submit the action taken report. Health facilities are directed to regularly inspect fire-fighting equipment such as extinguishers, hydrants, and alarms to ensure all are functional, according to the advisory. Material used in construction and furnishing must be audited to identify and replace combustible material with those that are fire resistant, it stated.

Rajkot fire tragedy: Another game zone partner arrested, says police

The Gujarat police have arrested one more partner of the Rajkot-based TRP game zone where a fire last week killed 27 persons, while another accused died in the blaze, officials said on Wednesday. The total number of arrests in connection with the incident has now gone up to five, according to police. Kiritsinh Jadeja, a partner in Raceway Enterprises, which operated the game zone, was arrested from Rajkot-Kalavad road on Tuesday night, Rajkot Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Parthrajsinh Gohil told PTI. Jadeja is among six partners of the TRP game zone named as accused in the fire incident and booked under various Indian Penal Code provisions, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. "We arrested accused Kiritsinh Jadeja near Rajkot last night, taking the total number of arrests made in the case so far to five," Gohil said. "Out of six persons named in the FIR, one Prakash Hiran has died in the fire. During examination, the DNA sample of one of the deceased matche

Rajkot fire tragedy: Police arrests one more partner of TRP game zone

The Gujarat police have arrested one more partner of the Rajkot-based TRP game zone where a devastating fire last week killed 27 persons, an official said on Tuesday. Dhaval Thakkar, the proprietor of Dhaval Corporation, which ran the TRP game zone along with five partners of Raceway Enterprises, was arrested from Abu Road in neighbouring Rajasthan, Banaskantha Superintendent of Police Akshayraj Makwana said. With this, four persons have so far been arrested in connection with the fire incident at the game zone on Saturday. "Thakkar was arrested from Abu Road in a joint operation carried out by the Rajkot and Banaskantha police last night," Makwana said. The police had earlier arrested Yuvrajsinh Solanki and Rahul Rathod, partners in the Raceway Enterprises, and game zone manager Nitin Jain. They were on Monday sent to 14-day police custody by a court in Rajkot. The police have registered an FIR against six persons - Thakkar, Solanki, Rathod, and Raceway Enterprises partners Ashok

Vivek Vihar hospital blaze incident ignites fire safety review in Delhi

Investigation yet to pinpoint cause 48 hours on

Rajkot tragedy: Court remands three accused in police custody for 14 days

The police on Monday arrested one of the partners of the ill-fated game zone in Gujarat's Rajkot, where 27 persons, including children, died in a fire, an official said. The police have registered an FIR against six partners of the TRP game zone on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and had earlier arrested two persons in connection with the incident. "The Rajkot police have arrested Rahul Rathod, one of the partners in the Raceway Enterprise, which operated the game zone. He is the third accused arrested in the case," said Rajkot Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Parthrajsinh Gohil. The Rajkot taluka police have booked Dhaval Corporation's proprietor, Dhaval Thakkar, and Raceway Enterprise partners Ashoksinh Jadeja, Kiritsinh Jadeja, Prakashchand Hiran, Yuvrajsinh Solanki and Rahul Rathod in the case. On Sunday, the police arrested one of the partners, Yuvrajsinh Solanki, and the entertainment facility's manager, Nitin Jain. The three arrested accused are ..

Delhi children hospital fire: Five oxygen cylinders exploded, says FIR

Five oxygen cylinders exploded when a fire broke out at a neonatal hospital in the Vivek Vihar area here, according to the FIR registered by Delhi Police in connection with the incident in which seven newborns were killed. The FIR, a copy of which is with PTI, states that a total of 27 oxygen cylinders found inside and outside the two-storey building of Baby Care New Born Child Hospital, where the fire broke out on Saturday night. The police received a call regarding the hospital fire at 11.29 pm. "With the help of fire brigades and ambulances of CATS and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal (an NGO), 12 newborns were rescued from the back of the building and were taken to another hospital. Of these, four males and three females were declared brought dead. Two other males and three females were hospitalised," the FIR said. After the fire was doused, crime and forensic teams inspected the spot and collected burnt exhibits from a van, burnt debris and burnt pieces of wire. Due to the heat,

Fire engulfs wood warehouse in Bhalswa Dairy area of Delhi, no one hurt

Fumes of smoke emanating from the warehouse filled the skies

Rajkot game zone fire: 2 cops, civic staff among 6 suspended for negligence

The Gujarat government on Monday ordered the suspension of five officials, including two police inspectors and civic staff, with immediate effect for negligence in connection with the Rajkot game zone fire which claimed 27 lives. The officials have been held responsible "for their gross negligence in allowing this game zone to operate without necessary approvals," stated a government release. Notably, it has emerged the facility, where the blaze erupted on Saturday, was operated without the fire NOC (no objection certificate). "The game zone had received permissions from the roads and buildings department. It had also submitted a proof of fire safety equipment to obtain the fire NOC which was under process and not yet completed," Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava told reporters on Sunday. The government's action of suspending five officials comes a day after Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inspected the site where the fire erupted on Saturday and instructed the departments ..

Delhi hospital fire: Court sends owner, another doctor to 3-day custody

A court here on Monday allowed the Delhi Police's plea seeking three days of custodial interrogation of the owner and on-duty doctor of the private hospital where a blaze killed seven newborns and injured five. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vidhi Gupta Anand sent Dr Naveen Khichi, the hospital's owner and Dr Aaksh -- who was on duty at the time of the fire late on Saturday -- to a three-day police custody. A detailed order in the matter is awaited. Police arrested the two doctors on Sunday. A massive fire broke out on Saturday night at Baby Care New Born Child Hospital in east Delhi's Vivek Vihar that was allegedly operating illegally with an "expired" licence and no clearance from the fire department. A case has been registered at Vivek Vihar police station under IPC sections 336 (act endangering life and personal safety of others) and 304A (causing death by negligence), 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide).

FIR against 6 partners of Rajkot game zone; 'facility didn't have fire NOC'

An owner partner of the Rajkot-based TRP game zone and its manager were arrested on the charge of culpable homicide after a devastating blaze killed 27 persons including children, while it emerged the facility was operated without fire NOC. The game zone had fire safety equipment but action taken to control the fire was not sufficient, leading to the tragedy on Saturday, a senior police officer said on Sunday, a day after the tragedy. The Gujarat High Court on Sunday took suo motu cognisance of the fire tragedy, terming it a prima facie "man-made disaster". The bench noted a stock of highly inflammable materials such as petrol, fibres and fibreglass sheets were stored at the facility. "Yuvrajsinh Solanki, a partner in the Raceway Enterprise, which operated the TRP game zone, and the entertainment facility's manager Nitin Jain have so far been arrested," said Rajkot Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Parthrajsinh Gohil. Rajkot taluka police have booked six persons for culpable ..

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