The Fire and Emergency Services Department in Bengaluru has commenced the survey of rooftop restaurants, bars, cafe and other F&B businesses in the city to generate data on how many such establishments are operating without implementing fire safety measures. This comes after the Mudpipe cafe fire accident, which critically injured a cook who worked at the hookah bar, at Koramangala near Forum Mall on Wednesday, October 18.
The building where this cafe-cum-hookah bar was set up on fourth floor is over 15 meters high but had not secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department. This was found during preliminary inquiry conducted by the police department. This has now called for a wider investigation into such cafes which are functioning across the city without NOC. Home Minister G. Parameshwara has also instructed the fie department to ensure stern implementation of fire safety protocols.
Increase in fire accidents
There has been a sudden increase in fire accidents in the city, with the fire control room receiving about 58 calls this month alone, until October 18. In Karnataka, in September 2023 alone, 442 fire incidents occurred. In September 2022, 398 cases were reported in the State. This means the State has recorded a 9% increase in such accidents in the month of September. Officials attribute the incidents to negligence.
Deputy Director, Fire and Safety Department (Technical), Eshwar Nayak told The Hindu that the Mudpipe incident exposed gaping holes in operations of rooftop restaurants and a high-level of ignorance of fire safety among the owners. Usually, rooftop cafes housed in buildings below 15 meters do not require NOC, but there are hundreds of such restaurants situated in buildings higher than 15 meters. Unless the department gets data, safety implementations are not possible, he said.
Personnel from the department have started going to the field to prepare a list. They will visit restaurants and enquire about NOC and installation of safety measures. As soon as the list is ready, the department will issue notices to implement measures. The Mudpipe cafe did not even have an emergency exit. However, about 12 gas cylinders were stored in one place due to which the major fire erupted, said Mr. Nayak.
Another fire official said lack of awareness among the owners is also resulting in fire accidents. “These incidents can happen 356 days unlike ground grass fire that normally happens in November or December. The department is also planning conduct more fire safety awareness programmes in the City and drills will be carried out,” the official added.
Hookah bar operating illegally, action to be taken against BBMP
Home Minister G Parameshwara, after visiting the accident spot on October 19, said the hookah bar was running illegally as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had only given permission for food catering. He said the BBMP had failed to verify what business the owner was running and added that action would be initiated against BBMP officials for their negligence.
Meanwhile, the fire department carried out a special drive at M.G. Road and Church Street to check whether the pubs and restaurants were adhering to fire safety rules.
Several hookah bars have been operating in Bengaluru and they are open post midnight. Owing to the thick fume and fragrance, it is impossible to detect smell in case of leakage during operational hours, patrons pointed out.
Injured still critical
The condition of the injured employee, identified as Prem Singh Saud (29), still remains critical. He was admitted to a government hospital and later shifted to Apollo Hospital on Bannerghatta Road. Speaking to The Hindu, a unit head of the hospital said he had sustained a head injury and fractured his hand due to the jump from the building. He will be kept under observation for the next 72 hours in the ICU.
