The fire outbreak at the heavily congested commercial hub at Broadway was a disaster waiting to happen, as The Hindu reported, prophetically as it turned out, on Monday.
It was not as if the authorities concerned were not alerted to the vulnerabilities, as the Fire and Rescue Services had submitted a report warning that Broadway was literally sitting on a powder keg, to both the Kochi Corporation and the district administration as far back as 2016.
Asked about the inaction on the report, District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla said it was for the individuals and the civic bodies concerned to take necessary precautions. He hinted that no action could be taken unilaterally and that all stakeholders would have to be brought together to chart out an effective plan. “A comprehensive study will be conducted on the vulnerabilities of Broadway and the Fire Department’s report will also be taken into account,” he said.
He cited roadside vendors, illegal parking, encroachment and aged wiring among the many maladies ailing the heritage-rich shopping area. Mr. Safirulla has sought a detailed report from the Fire Department on the fire breakout. “Prima facie, it appears that a short circuit might have caused the accident considering the impact of increased electrical load on the decades-old wiring,” he said.
‘Apathy of authorities’
Ernakulam District Residents’ Associations Apex Council (EDRAAC) president P. Rangadasa Prabhu said that the fire was undoubtedly caused by the apathy of the authorities concerned.
“The district administration should take the initiative to formulate a programme for the proper upkeep of the place while preserving its heritage character. Discussing the problem and engaging in a blame game only during incidents won’t help. So far, no lives have been lost in such incidents and we should not wait for such a tragedy to find a solution,” he said.
Mr. Prabhu called for rationalisation of rent at Broadway, citing that the low rent was one of the reasons why building owners did not bother to undertake proper maintenance.
Broadway Shop Owners’ Association president P.A. Sageer shot down the low rent theory and blamed it on the failure of authorities in enforcing parking ban along Broadway, which is supposed to be a no-parking zone. He cited how illegal parking hindered the free movement of fire tenders on Monday.