The massive fire at a coaching center in Mukherjee Nagar has pointed to a major accident in future in Delhi. More than five thousand coaching centers are running in Delhi. Surprisingly, it is not mandatory for these educational institutions to even obtain NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Fire Department, while it is mandatory for all public buildings including hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, malls or marriage halls to have such a certificate. In the meeting of the top officials of the Delhi Fire Department with the Delhi Government on Monday, it may be made mandatory for all educational institutions to take NOC from the Fire Department.
After the Mukherjee Nagar fire incident, the Delhi High Court took suo moto cognizance of the matter, after which the ministers and officers of the concerned departments became alert. Various matters are being considered to ensure the safety of the students. In this case, it has come to light that it is not mandatory for these educational institutions and hostels to take NOC from the Fire Department, but now it can be made mandatory for all educational institutions including NOC to follow other rules required for public buildings. In this, preparations are being made to make it mandatory for disabled students to have ramps and specially made toilets.
Small educational institutions, hostels and students studying in them are not affected by this action of the department, for this they can be temporarily given some facilities related to the structure, but NOC can be made mandatory with immediate effect.
When did the incident happen?
The fire broke out at Bhandari House in Mukherjee Nagar’s Batra Complex due to a short circuit around 12 noon on Thursday. Around 500 students were studying their respective subjects in various coaching institutes running in Bhandari House at the time of the fire incident. Due to prompt action all the students were evacuated. Some students saved their lives by getting down with the help of a rope. All the students were evacuated safely, but some students sustained minor injuries and were discharged from the hospital after first aid.
Court asked for security report
The Delhi High Court took suo motu cognizance of the incident in Mukherjee Nagar. The court has summoned the report of the security audit in all the coaching institutes running in Delhi. The next hearing in this matter will be held on July 3.
How many coaching institutes?
Delhi is a big center of education, here students come from all over the country and abroad to study various subjects and prepare for competitive exams. There are about five thousand coaching institutes in Delhi University and JNU surrounding areas, in which lakhs of students try to make their future. Small and big hostels have also been built for these students in different areas. Adequate security measures have not been taken even in these hostels. In such a situation, the safety of the children is at stake here too.
Student organizations have demanded immediate action against such coaching institutes and hostel owners. Seeing the anger of the students regarding the safety after the fire, the coaching operators have temporarily closed their coaching institutes for three days. Classes can start again in these institutions from Monday.
investigation continues
Police is probing the Mukherjee Nagar fire incident. According to the information received, a total of 61 people including 30 students have been questioned in this matter so far. Police is still interrogating more people to know about the whole matter. It is also being investigated whether the fire broke out due to short circuit, or there was a conspiracy behind it. The police is probing the matter from every angle.
‘Where 50 children cannot sit, they are making 300 sit’
Jai Bhagwan Goyal, International Working President of United Hindu Front met the students of Mukherjee Nagar. He visited the coaching centers and libraries running there. Goyal said that teaching 300 children together in buildings where there is no facility to seat 50 people is like inviting a big accident. He said that the Governor of Delhi, the Chief Minister should take immediate action against the injustice, exploitation and playing with the lives and property of the students of Mukherjee Nagar; May have to
