Page 42 - Insurance Times December 2023

benzene, acetone, etc. High concentration of these actions against the illegal constructed factories being run
substances is rendering an exposed person to become in the tapered lanes.
unconscious. At lower concentration these substance will
affect the nervous and cardiovascular system and reduce C. Amri Fire Tragedy - Kolkata
mental and pumping function of heart of the exposed Another fire disaster, made worse on the account of having
person, due to these physical and mental problems, the taken place in a hospital, occurred at the AMRI Hospital at
escape from building become impossible. The irritants are Dhakuria in South Kolkata at 2:30 am on 9 December 2011.
hydrochloric acid or fumes of burnt items. It will prevent A short circuit in the basement of the building resulted in
escape by affecting the eyes and it is moving in upward inflammable substances catching fire which spread through
direction and damage lungs and causes the subsequent the hospital at a very rapid rate. The central AC system
death of the victims who have survived the immediate carried the smoke all through the building, causing
exposure. These losses are un-compensable and un-bearable asphyxiation and 95 people including members of the staff
in life. died as a result. While the fire broke out at 3am, the fire
tenders were called for only at 4 am and by the time they
3. Case Studies on Fire Incidents: arrived it was 5 am. Meanwhile, local youth succeeded in
Here are some of the worst fire disasters in India saving many lives. The rescue operation by the fire brigade
that will haunt people for years to come: was further hampered due to lack of a blueprint of the
building plan.
A. Upahaar Fire Tragedy - Delhi
The fire occurred on June 13, 1997 at Upahaar Cinema in
Green Park, Delhi, during the screening of the movie
'Border'. One of the worst fire tragedies in the history of
India, this disaster left 59 dead, mostly due to suffocation
because of being trapped inside the cinema hall. In fact, at
least 103 people were seriously injured in the resulting
stampede.

Lack of a functional PA system and emergency lights, foot
light and exit lights, blocked gangways, blocked exits with
most of the doors locked, and obstruction at available exits
due to unauthorized shops were some of the reasons for the
event to take such a severe turn. Absence of fire
extinguishers and lack of periodic maintenance of fire
extinguishing & other appliances also contributed heavily
towards more casualties.

B. Anaj Mandi Fire Tragedy - Delhi
It is believed to be the second most deadly fire disaster in
twenty years in Delhi, first being the Uphaar theatre blaze.
On December 8, 2019, Delhi woke up to a massive fire at
Anajmandi factory building. The four-storey building was
cramped with sleeping labourers. The fire broke out on the
second floor of the building around 5 am in the morning. In
the incident, 43 people lost their lives and 16 were severely Above picture explains the hospital location, approachability,
injured. With the help of 150 firefighters, the fire was number of floors, number of doors, materials used for
doused within four hours from the time of the incident. As exterior finish, number of bed, number of admitted patients,
per the fire brigade officials, they received several fire fire starting point, reason for high smoke, spread and
emergency calls on the way but it was not possible to reach different accommodation.
the incident spot immediately due to some entry blockages,
however, the concerned authorities didn't take any required Ignition of fire: The basement floor used as storage area of

38 December 2023 The Insurance Times