Bengaluru Fire in Chickpet Complex Highlights Safety Lapses and Official Apathy
A suspected short-circuit triggered an accidental fire on the ground and first floors of the four-storey Lakshmi Complex in Kumbarpet, Chickpet, around 8.30 am on Wednesday. The blaze was exacerbated by highly inflammable goods and narrow lanes, creating a dangerous situation. Fortunately, no casualties were reported among civilians.
Storage of Inflammable Goods Worsens Fire
Fire officials revealed that what could have been a minor incident escalated significantly due to the unscientific storage of perfumes, cosmetics, skincare products, and other beauty items in a poorly ventilated room. Chief Fire Officer PS Jayaram stated that the building owner flouted every possible safety guideline. "A no-objection certificate from the fire department wasn't there; there were no smoke detectors, no fire alarms. The entire building was used for storing different products — ranging from cricket balls to cosmetics and other inflammable products," he emphasized.
Firefighters Injured and Access Issues
While no civilians were harmed, four firefighters — Mahadev, Akshay Channa Gauder, Kumar Matapati, and Jagadeesh Pawar — sustained burns and faced respiratory problems during the rescue operations. Access constraints further delayed fire-control efforts. An official explained, "Fire tenders were forced to park on the main road and pipes were pulled for a distance of around one kilometre. Narrow lanes obstructed free movement of the fire tenders."
History of Similar Incidents and Unlearned Lessons
This incident occurred less than a kilometre away from a tragic fire in August last year, where five people sleeping inside a commercial building were charred to death. Following that event, the government established several guidelines for high-rise commercial buildings, including restrictions on businesses in narrow lanes and unscientifically constructed structures. However, fire officials expressed frustration over the continued apathy. A senior fire officer told TOI, "Nothing has changed since Aug — buildings, staircases, narrow lanes, unscientifically stored stocks, large godowns without ventilation and most importantly, not bothering to get no-objection certificates from the fire and emergency department."
The fire at Lakshmi Complex underscores persistent safety failures in Bengaluru's commercial hubs, raising concerns about enforcement and accountability in fire prevention measures.
