Kolkata Fire Department Orders Evacuation Of Basement, Sixth And Seventh Floors
Fire department cites inadequate safety measures at the premises.
The West Bengal Fire Department on Friday ordered the evacuation of the basement and sixth and seventh floors of a high-rise building in central Kolkata that houses the office of Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, citing inadequate fire safety measures. The order came after officials found deficiencies during an inspection of the premises and follows a notice issued to the building owner seeking corrective action.
According to a Fire Department official, no adequate fire safety arrangements were found in the basement of the building. The department subsequently issued a show-cause notice to the owner, allowing 48 hours for a response. After the deadline passed without a response, officials directed that the basement, sixth floor and seventh floor be vacated until the identified deficiencies are addressed and the required safety certification is obtained.
The department also noted that the building’s fire safety certificate expired on August 10 and had not been renewed. The evacuation order will remain in effect for the specified areas until the shortcomings are rectified and a valid fire safety certificate is secured. Officials stressed that the absence of adequate fire protection in a building’s basement could pose serious risks during a fire and requires immediate corrective measures.
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A joint team of police and fire officials had conducted a floor-by-floor inspection of the building on Monday to assess its fire safety arrangements. According to the notice issued to the owner, the inspection found inadequate firefighting provisions on the seventh floor, the absence of a designated fire exit and deficiencies in the fire alarm system. The department directed the owner to address these issues before the affected floors can be used again.
The fire safety action comes a day after Banerjee’s office on Camac Street was reportedly ransacked, with the Trinamool Congress alleging that individuals linked to the BJP were responsible. The BJP rejected the allegation. The development also follows an incident last week when authorities removed a billboard described as illegal by the civic authorities from the same building, leading to a scuffle involving private security guards, Banerjee’s supporters, party leaders, police personnel and Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials.
The latest order is focused on compliance with fire safety requirements and applies specifically to the basement and sixth and seventh floors identified in the department’s notice. The building owner will be required to rectify the deficiencies, restore the necessary firefighting and alarm arrangements, provide a designated fire exit and obtain a valid fire safety certificate before the affected areas can resume use.
Also Read: Kolkata Billboard Row: 14 Trinamool Activists Arrested So Far
