Walled City markets sitting on tinderbox

Vadodara: Markets within the walled city area are the go-to place for Barodians for anything they would want. But thousands of people risk their lives while visiting these markets on any given day.
These markets, spread over several pols, narrow lanes and alleys, are prone to fire which can spread quickly as there is little or no fire safety arrangement or equipment. The situation is such that even a minor short-circuit can set ablaze several shops.

The fire that broke out in Satyabhava Complex in Munshi no Khancho in Mangal Bazaar in the early hours of Monday was also result of a short-circuit. Three floors of the building were charred in the fire as fire engines could not reach till the building and there were no basic fire safety equipment. Two persons, who had entered the building under mysterious circumstances lost their lives, but if the building would have caught fire during the day, the number of casualties would have been high.

Sources in the fire department said it is not just Mangal Bazaar, but situation in the markets situated in Ghadiyali Pol, Karodiya Pol, Jani Sheri, Amba Mata ni Pol, Shamad Bechar ni Pol, lanes behind old Sadhana Talkies and Kalamandir no Khancho among others are also similar.

“There is haphazard parking, encroachments in basements and roads and several other issues which make it difficult to conduct firefighting operation. In the past, we have demolished illegal sheds and temporary structures, but the shopkeepers erect them again,” said a fire official.

When TOI visited these areas on Tuesday, it was business as usual for traders and the markets were filled with customers. There are several entry and exit points in these markets but these are broad enough only for couple of people to enter or exit.

“If a fire breaks out in these areas during evening hours, there may be possibilities of casualties, but the figure may also rise due to a possible stampede,” the fire official said.

“The commercial markets cannot be moved out from there as these have been there for decades now. But the civic body or the police should declare these areas as no vehicle zones so that there can be some open space for emergency vehicles to enter,” said Hariom Vyas, a resident of Shamad Bechar ni Pol.

“As the city grew, those living in pols started moving out and the properties were let out to traders. Many of them do not even have proper building use permission from civic body, but nobody acts so things are going on as it is,” said another citizen who lives near old Sadhana Talkies.