Chandigarh fire: Chief fire officer not informed about incident, issues notice

The Additional Commissioner has also sought a report if fire safety measures had been taken by the factory owners.

Infuriated over concealing such a major incident from him, Additional Municipal Commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta, who is also the chief fire officer, has served a show cause notice on station fire officer Baljinder Singh. Even as the fire broke out at 12 noon, the chief fire officer was not even informed about the incident till 4.30 pm. As many as 28 people were admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32.

Gupta said, “The SFO has been asked for an explanation as to why action may not be initiated against him for not briefing me about such an incident.” The Additional Commissioner has also sought a report if fire safety measures had been taken by the factory owners.

“If not found up to the mark, the factory premises will be sealed,” said the Additional Commissioner. The fire department has been asked to inspect all such factories and see if the fire safety measures are being followed as per norms. A fire official said that even as fire extinguishers and certain pieces of equipment were installed on the premises, some of them were not working properly.