City buildings lack fire safety certificates, no action taken

Fire safety certificates have not been renewed for a large number of buildings in the city, and no action has been initiated by the Fire Department in this regard. A majority of petrol pumps in Ludhiana are seen violating safety guidelines, putting lives at risk.

Many buildings, including fuel stations, in the city have never renewed their fire safety certificate from the department. These establishments obtain the certificate before inauguration—when applying for a No Objection Certificate (NOC)—but often fail to renew it annually, as required by law.

Surprisingly, a Fire Brigade official claimed that they could only issue notices and lacked the authority to issue challans. The Fire Department has failed to prosecute anyone in connection with fire incidents in the city. Furthermore, it has hardly kept track of investigations related to such incidents.

Hundreds of hosiery units and godowns are operating from narrow lanes in the old city, where fire tenders cannot even reach in emergencies. The local fire wing remains ill-equipped to manage major fire outbreaks in these areas, with most units lacking proper safety arrangements.

Several hosiery businesses continue to operate out of residential houses in the old city, where large stocks of goods are stored in makeshift godowns. Areas such as Dal Bazar, Gur Mandi, Chawal Bazar, Pindi Street, Khud Mohalla, Purana Bazar, Mochpura Bazar and Mohalla Suddan are home to numerous commercial and hosiery units located in congested alleys.

Despite multiple fire incidents being reported from these areas, the Fire Department still does not have the equipment necessary to respond effectively. The frequent fires this year in Ludhiana have again highlighted the urgent need for stronger enforcement of fire safety regulations and better monitoring of unauthorised dumping grounds.

Fire Sub-Officer Maninder Singh said, “We can’t do anything. People have to get their fire safety certificates renewed on their own, but right now, not many are doing it.”

Ludhiana