FCIK urges Govt to prioritise fire safety in industrial estates

Srinagar, Nov 14: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has called on the government to prioritise essential fire safety measures across all industrial estates in the Kashmir Valley to prevent the devastation of industrial units from fire disasters.

A statement said that the demand was raised during a visit to the Industrial Estate Sopore by a high-level delegation from FCIK, led by Advisory Committee Member and former President MD Qureshi, along with Shakeel Qalander, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, Syed Fazal Illahi, Zain ul Abideen, Haji Mohammad Ashraf, Mohammad Imran, and others. The delegation expressed their solidarity with Ishfaq Ganai, the owner of Habib Enterprises, a prominent industrial unit that was destroyed in a devastating fire on Wednesday evening.

President of the Industrial Estate Sopore, Javid Ahmad Bhat and other office bearers and members of the Association guided the delegation through the estate, highlighting significant infrastructural deficiencies in the estate particularly the absence of adequate firefighting infrastructure.

The Chamber regretted that this incident served as a stark reminder of the critical gaps in fire safety infrastructure across Kashmir's industrial estates.

“This fire marks the third such disaster in less than a month, following similar blazes at Alkaram Polymer in IGC Lassipora and Northern Steel Industry in Burzalla. These incidents, have caused substantial financial losses and highlighted the vulnerability of industrial units due to inadequate fire safety measures”, the chamber noted.

To prevent further tragedies, FCIK has emphasised on prioritisation of the safety and security of industrial estates and has called for a comprehensive infrastructure audit across all industrial zones in Kashmir, focusing not only on the overall structural integrity of these estates but also on fire safety infrastructure and preparedness.

FCIK has also called for the establishment of centrally located water reservoirs, or sumps, at every industrial estate. These reservoirs would serve as a ready supply for firefighting efforts and should be strategically positioned for easy access by fire brigades in case of an emergency.

"Additionally, industrial estates should be equipped with water hydrants distributed throughout the premises, ensuring that every unit has immediate access to water in the event of a fire," said Qureshi.

"This would significantly improve the response time of firefighting teams and enhance the effectiveness of their efforts." He added

Qureshi further emphasized the need for fire stations to be established within each industrial estate, ensuring that professional firefighting personnel are either stationed on-site or on standby.

"For estates that already have fire stations, an immediate review and augmentation of these facilities is required, including the provision of additional equipment and an increase in manpower," he added.

The Chamber also urged estate-based associations to encourage units to install their own fire safety systems, including fire alarms, extinguishers, and sprinklers. Additionally, associations should conduct regular fire drills to ensure that employees are well-prepared for emergencies and that evacuation processes are smooth and efficient.

FCIK has also emphasised need for collaborative efforts with local fire safety experts and agencies to ensure that necessary resources, including modern firefighting equipment and trained personnel, are readily available to combat such incidents.

While seeking the intervention of the Deputy Chief Minister in the matter, the Chamber said that the investment in fire safety infrastructure should be viewed not only as a preventive measure but also as a long-term investment in the safety of workers, businesses, and the regional economy as a whole.