Surat fire tragedy: Dear CM, we need strong action NOW.

The same noise, the same promises, the same reaction of “strict action”. And then we move on. In the “setting” culture we live in, fire safety is a cosmetic issue for most malls, schools, colleges and, sadly, even hospitals. Twenty students dead, several injured, thousands traumatized.

The Surat fire tragedy at an illegal coaching class is the latest in the list. We at Ahmedabad Mirror are pained. But we are also angry. What will happen now? The builder of Takshshila complex Harsukh Vekaria and class organiser Bhargav Bhutani will be arrested. Dear CM Mr Vijay Rupani, you are a good man with good intentions. The first thing you should have done today before visiting families of the deceased in Surat, or addressing the media, should have been to suspend all, and, I repeat, ALL officers from the Surat Municipal Corporation, the fire and emergency services and the police whose job it was to ensure compliance of fire safety.

Your reactionary visit may stir some emotions but your concrete action can change the system for good. Every day in India, there are 59 deaths due to fire incidents. This is much more than death due to terrorism or crime. The time is now. The more we average citizens do not take up the issue, nothing’s going to really change.

What is it that we can do to make our fire safety an issue. We will begin with educational institutions. We can’t do this alone. We need government, corporations, organisations and most importantly volunteers and active citizens to help us steer this campaign. Let us begin with tips and concrete suggestions. Please forward them to deepal.trivedi@timesgroup.com or WhatsApp on 8320530590.

— Deepal Trivedi, Editor