Ill-equipped civic markets are fire traps

Mumbai: With municipal markets not having basic fire safety equipment, they can be called veritable fire traps. Several illegal extensions, cluttered entry and exit routes add to the problem. 

    In the backdrop of the inferno in a 
godown-cum-office complex in a Kolkata market on Wednesday in which 18 people died, the fire safety of municipal markets should be beefed up, say experts. The building, housing the market in Kolkata, was unauthorized and had come up during the Left Front regime. 
    There are 103 municipal markets in Mumbai, most very old and dilapidated. The markets are in prime spots and cater to many people. "After the Crawford market fire that lasted for over eight hours, the BMC had planned to survey all civic markets for fire safety, but nothing has been done on that front," said a fire brigade official. 
    Electric wirings and circuit cabins that have been eaten up by rodents are hanging precariously in these markets. 
    The official added that since these markets were very old, the BMC can make provisions to have fire extinguishers, de-clutter the routes and also inspect the markets for storage of inflammable and hazardous chemicals. 
    "Several shops are making illegally extensions and the exits are getting narrower. Wooden wares are stocked in the lobby. If a fire erupts, it would be a nightmare for people trying to flee," said a shopkeeper at the Khar market. 
    He said several workers from these shops sleep on the market premises at night and if fire safety is ignored, it could lead to a disaster.

Wires hanging and a broken pillar at Vile Parle (E) and (W) markets