Govt orders fire safety audit of all hotels across J&K

Jammu, November 4

The UT Government of Jammu and Kashmir today ordered a fire safety audit (FSA) of all hotels across Jammu and Kashmir.

The order follows the instructions of Lt-Governor, GC Murmu against the backdrop of fire incident at a hotel in Gulmarg on Sunday.

In this regard, the Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam, on Monday chaired a meeting with the Principal Secretary, Home, Director General, Fire and Emergency Services, and other senior officers in Kashmir and Jammu divisions through videoconferencing.

“Any laxity or ignorance in handling electricity and heating gadgets in winters, especially hotels can put human life to risk. It has been invariably noticed that the fire incidents increase during the winter months,” an official spokesperson said, adding “To check fire incidents, it is essential that appropriate safety and control measures are in place. It is towards this end that the government has worked out a strategy aimed at fire risk assessment, identifying fire hazards, determining fire safety and control measures and having in place evacuation plan and procedures in hotels to tackle any emergent situation or crisis”.

As part of the strategy, a fire safety audit of all hotels and guest houses across J&K will be conducted by a five-member team of officers to be constituted by the Divisional Administration of Kashmir and Jammu. — TNS