The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken a serious view of the massive fire that broke out at a multistorey hotel in Hisar earlier this month, expressing deep concerns over the state's fire-safety preparedness. The commission observed that the government cannot afford to wait for a catastrophic incident before strengthening emergency response systems across Haryana.
Suo Motu Hearing on May 7 Fire
Hearing a suo motu case based on reports of the May 7 fire, the commission highlighted the apparent lack of effective rescue mechanisms at the site. It noted that a woman employee trapped in the building allegedly jumped from the second floor to save herself and was rescued by local residents using a blanket, suffering serious injuries in the process.
Compliance Reports Sought
The HHRC has sought detailed compliance reports from the Haryana chief secretary, the fire and emergency services department, the town and country planning department, the Hisar administration, and the municipal corporation. Authorities have been asked to explain the status of firefighting infrastructure, availability of rescue equipment, fire safety clearances issued to the hotel, and the action taken following the incident.
Tagged with Ongoing Proceedings
The matter has been tagged with the commission's ongoing 2022 proceedings related to fire safety infrastructure and is scheduled for a hearing on July 22. The bench, comprising Justice Lalit Batra, judicial member Kuldip Jain, and member Deep Bhatia, observed that such incidents expose alarming shortcomings in fire safety infrastructure, evacuation systems, and disaster preparedness in multistorey commercial buildings across Haryana.
Need for Advanced Emergency Systems
The commission emphasized that modern urban infrastructure requires advanced emergency systems such as hydraulic platforms and turntable ladders for rescue and firefighting operations in high-rise buildings, hotels, and commercial complexes. Referring to an earlier suo motu case pending since 2022 regarding the procurement of rescue equipment, the HHRC said repeated delays in operationalising emergency infrastructure are a matter of serious concern.
Reference to Hong Kong Fire Tragedy
The commission also referred to a recent fire tragedy in Hong Kong to underline how even developed regions can face devastating consequences without effective rescue systems. The HHRC stressed that proactive measures are essential to prevent loss of life and property.
