Delhi played with fire in 2024, posted 37% rise in cases | Delhi News – Times of India

On May 25, a fire in a children’s hospital in east Delhi’s Vivek Vihar resulted in the deaths of seven newborns

Delhi saw a 37% increase in fire incidents in 2024 compared with the previous year, indicating a serious failure to learn from past experiences. The city’s fire safety preparedness and compliance came under scrutiny due to this substantial rise.
Fire department’s analysis revealed troubling statistics, with 20,795 fire calls recorded until Dec 18, a substantial increase from 15,169 calls during the corresponding period last year.The data also highlighted a significant disregard for fire safety protocols.
The capital witnessed a disturbing 94% increase in fire-related deaths, with 115 casualties this year compared with 59 in the previous year. This increase in fatalities emphasises the critical need for improved safety measures and stringent regulation enforcement.
Atul Garg, director of Delhi Fire Services, described the year as particularly demanding, with unprecedented emergency calls, especially during summer months, surpassing historical records. “In nearly every case we responded to,” a fire officer explained, we observed a consistent lack of adequate safety measures. These included, but were not limited to, insufficient escape routes, often only a single exit point; a complete absence of fire safety arrangements, such as sprinklers or fire extinguishers; significant delays in notifying the fire department about the outbreak of the blaze, which allowed fires to spread unchecked; and hazardous electrical wiring, which often contributed to the ignition and rapid propagation of the flames. These factors consistently hampered our firefighting efforts and posed significant risks to both firefighters and civilians.”
Two major fire incidents occurred this year. On May 25, a fire in a children’s hospital in east Delhi’s Vivek Vihar resulted in the deaths of seven newborns. Probe revealed a series of negligent acts.
A little earlier, in Feb, a devastating factory fire in Alipur claimed 11 lives, including the owner, and left four others injured. Investigations showed the owner’s failure to implement safety measures or install equipment for managing fires caused by highly flammable chemicals.