A devastating fire that claimed at least 146 lives and left dozens missing in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court housing estate last week has reignited urgent concerns about high-rise fire safety in India’s densely packed urban centers, particularly Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. The blaze, described as the city’s deadliest in nearly eight decades, rapidly spread through an eight-tower complex undergoing renovation, with bamboo scaffolding and nylon mesh widely cited as key factors that accelerated the inferno. Indian fire-safety experts warn that while bamboo scaffolding is banned here, the tragedy exposes similar vulnerabilities in the country’s booming vertical developments.

Unlike Hong Kong, India’s National Building Code (NBC) 2016 prohibits bamboo scaffolding in high-rise construction and mandates the use of non-combustible steel or iron frameworks. Yet specialists point out that lax enforcement, inadequate maintenance of fire systems, and widespread tampering with smoke detectors during interior renovations mirror conditions that contributed to the Hong Kong disaster. Munish Kumar, founder-director of EHS Guru Sustainable Solutions, stressed that many residents and housing societies in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai treat mandatory biennial fire audits as an unnecessary expense rather than a critical safeguard.

Under NBC 2016, buildings taller than 30 meters (roughly 10-12 stories) must have smoke detectors inside every apartment, directly linked to central fire-control panels and sprinkler systems, while lower structures require detectors in common areas. However, experts say detectors are routinely disabled or removed during flat makeovers, leaving entire towers defenseless. Electrical overloads, unchecked renovation debris, and blocked escape routes further compound risks in India’s high-rises, where populations often exceed approved limits.

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The Hong Kong tragedy has prompted renewed calls for stricter enforcement of biennial fire-safety audits, real-time monitoring of firefighting equipment, and heavier penalties for tampering with life-safety systems. Industry voices emphasize that as Indian cities race toward greater vertical density, aligning ambitious skyscraper projects with robust firefighting infrastructure, regular drills, and resident awareness is no longer optional; it is the only way to prevent a similar catastrophe on Indian soil.

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