JOIN USIt has been over two years since a major fire gutted around 50 shops at the Sri Krishna Rajendra Market (SKR New Complex) in the City, but to this day fire safety measures have remained elusive for the busy commercial establishment.
There are a total of 1,310 shops within the complex, and attracts almost one lakh people during festivals, said traders. However, there are not enough exit doors or good connectivity between the floors, they added.
Shop vendors highlighted that there is just one emergency exit and even that is in very bad shape.
“There is no fire detection and alarm system. All the exits are currently converted into shops. Visitors face problems to get out of the complex as there are no direction boards.
We want the BBMP to construct staircases for the benefit of the traders as well as visitors,” said Prakash S, a fancy store owner at the market complex.
Pointing towards the defunct lifts, president of Sagar Welfare Society and a stall owner, Asif Pasha said: “There are two lifts built inside the complex by the Palike. However, they are dysfunctional for the past 17 years. Despite umpteen number of memorandums submitted to the Palike, no action has been taken, so far. Moreover, there is no
ventilation, especially, in the cellar and the upper basement floor of the building.”
In January this year, one of the shops in the old market building that was marked for demolition went up in flames, said the traders.
Seven shops damaged
“Last year too, there was a fire that damaged as many as seven shops inside the new complex. The firemen had to struggle a lot to reach the spot as the approach road is very narrow and the market is always crowded.
The civic agency must take steps to improve fire evacuation plans and safety measures as we do not want another fire mishap to take place,” said, Shakeel P, one of the traders.
Mayor B S Satyanarayana told Deccan Herald that the Palike has chalked out plans to improve the safety measures and will execute the work within a month.
Officials play truant
The irked traders submitted a memorandum to the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES) urging them to visit the spot and inspect the condition on July 14.
The traders maintained that the department officials agreed to visit the premises on Monday but they did not turn up much to the disappointment of the traders. “The Palike might take necessary steps, if the Fire and Emergency department directs them. We will meet the KSFES officers soon,” said Asif Pasha.
DH News Service