Proactive, policy-driven framework needed
In Tricity, fire incidents in old commercial hubs such as the mobile market, Sector 22, expose glaring risks. Crowded complexes often lack emergency exits and firefighting systems. Equally vulnerable are Chandigarh’s congested villages, where narrow lanes obstruct rescue vehicles, delaying response during emergencies. Policies must move from rhetoric to enforcement. Authorities should intensify inspections, penalise violations and ensure compliance across all structures. Future urban planning must integrate fire safety mechanisms into multi-storey buildings and new developments. Regular audits, accountability mechanisms, and community awareness campaigns are essential to prevent disasters. Delhi’s lessons must not be ignored. Tricity requires a proactive, policy-driven framework where fire safety is treated as fundamental to urban growth, not an afterthought.
Paramjit Singh, Mohali
Improve safety norms’ Implementation
The recent fire tragedy in Delhi is a wake-up call for every city. While the Tricity has better infrastructure, the implementation of fire safety norms remains inconsistent. Fire safety audits should be mandatory, transparent, and conducted regularly, with zero tolerance for violations. Buildings operating without valid fire clearances should face immediate closure and heavy penalties. Emergency exits, fire alarms, sprinklers, and extinguishers must always be functional, and regular mock drills should be compulsory for staff and occupants. Public awareness is equally important, as preparedness saves lives. Fire safety should never become a formality confined to paperwork; every ignored lapse is a potential disaster waiting to happen. Authorities, institutions, and citizens must work together to ensure safety is treated as a priority, not an afterthought.
Vineet Gandhi, Chandigarh
Link safety clearance to insurance
Without third-party inspections and insurance certificates from national insurance companies, fire safety cannot improve. It is impossible for municipal corporations and district fire authorities to enforce norms effectively until accountability is shared by the certifier. This is a standard necessity worldwide, and the Administration must not dilute safety norms. Municipalities should have their areas certified by insurance companies, similar to large industries. Furthermore, all commercial and shopping areas should feature large overhead water tanks and local fire hydrant networks. This would allow locals to control fires before they spread and destroy property, especially when traffic congestion delays fire tenders.
Ashok Kumar Goel, Panchkula
Update firefighting infrastructure
With increasing incidents of fire, firefighting systems in the Tricity need an urgent update. Chandigarh was not originally planned for high-rise buildings, meaning hydraulic staircases were omitted from initial designs. However, multi-storey residential societies and malls have since emerged, yet the administration has failed to update its infrastructure. Shortages of fire tenders and personnel remain persistent issues. Strict regulations must ensure builders install in-house firefighting arrangements before receiving a fire No-Objection Certificate. Moreover, regular inspections must follow the initial certification. Factories in industrial areas must also replace outdated boilers, which are major fire hazards. Resolving this burning issue requires collective effort and institutional coordination between the fire departments across Tricity.
Yash Khetarpal, Panchkula
Monitoring vital for safety
In Tricity, authorities have taken positive steps recently, including periodic safety audits, stricter checks on commercial buildings, and emergency awareness drives. However, challenges remain, particularly in older buildings, crowded markets, and establishments where safety measures are poorly maintained. While regulatory enforcement has improved, ensuring public safety requires continuous monitoring, regular inspections, and greater accountability from building owners. The Delhi tragedy serves as a grim reminder that fire safety is an ongoing responsibility for both authorities and citizens, not a one-time compliance exercise.
Harinder Singh Bhalla, Chandigarh
Uneven enforcement a major concern
Fire safety enforcement has seen some improvement in Tricity, particularly after the major fire at Chandigarh’s Sector 22 market prompted inspections and audits. However, progress remains uneven. Many older buildings still lack adequate fire exits, emergency signage, and well-maintained equipment. In congested markets, narrow access roads continue to delay rescue operations. While awareness campaigns and mock drills have increased, strict compliance remains a challenge. The Delhi incident must act as a wake-up call; regular inspections, strict enforcement, and public awareness are essential to protect the Tricity from future disasters.
Aarti Rana Chauhan
Audits can counter electrical overloads
The recent spate of fires should compel everyone to focus on prevention. While the reasons for these fires are varied, short circuits caused by overloaded electrical systems are the most common. The skyrocketing use of air conditioners places an immense load on existing wiring that may not be robust enough to handle the current, resulting in electrical fires. The administration must urgently conduct fire audits across all public spaces, including offices, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, malls, and schools. While this is a massive undertaking, it is entirely achievable if the Fire Department collaborates with architects and electrical engineers.
NPS Sohal, Chandigarh
Prioritise safety in peripheral areas
Despite robust fire safety norms, caution and stringent implementation are never enough; accidents do not just happen, they are caused. Investment in fire safety is direct, yet the dividend is seldom tangible. Tricity is dotted with peripheral villages featuring narrow lanes, haphazard construction, and bulky structural additions made for commercial gain. The lessons from the Delhi village inferno must be implemented here, making fire safety installations a priority project for these vulnerable areas.
Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula
Ensure proper fire exits in Buildings
The recent deaths in a multi-storey hotel fire has exposed critical gaps in urban fire safety. Authorities must ensure that comprehensive safety measures are verified before issuing completion certificates for multi-storey structures. Beyond checking firefighting equipment and conducting drills, rigorous electrical audits are required to eliminate loose wiring, faulty circuits, and sub-standard miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) that cause overloads. Having proper fire exits, keeping staircases unlocked in multi-storey buildings is an urgent necessity for immediate evacuation. Additionally, fire personnel must carry out regular response drills to ensure swift access and evacuation during emergencies.
Col TBS Bedi, Mohali
Ditch paper compliance for proactive safety
The tragic Delhi fire is a reminder that fire safety cannot remain a paper formality. While the Tricity has seen increased inspections and awareness campaigns, implementation remains reactive and uneven. Many commercial buildings, banquet halls, and residential complexes suffer from blocked emergency exits, inadequate equipment, and poorly maintained systems. Fire clearances are frequently obtained on paper without subsequent compliance checks, while road encroachments block fire tenders. Authorities must conduct surprise inspections and impose stringent penalties, and make fire audit reports public. Educating citizens through regular mock drills is equally vital, as true safety lies in emergency readiness, not just a certificate.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Audits expose critical urban vulnerabilities
The current fire safety situation in the Tricity is a mix of active administration and deep-rooted compliance challenges. The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has launched an intensified enforcement drive, with fire and rescue services conducting surprise audits across high-risk zones. However, these audits have uncovered critical shortcomings, including blocked emergency escape routes, narrow entry points, poorly maintained extinguishers, and a lack of proper ventilation during peak summer heatwaves. While there is a visible effort from the administration to
overhaul safety laws and penalise offenders, significant work still remains to rectify ground realities.
Anita K Tandon, Mundi Kharar
Address hazardous electrical wiring
Regular inspections of hotels must be mandatory, and officials should submit GPS-tagged photographs to ensure genuine compliance with building bylaws. Heavy penalties must be imposed for violations, and dereliction of duty should invite strict action against erring officials. Furthermore, electrical wiring remains hazardously haphazard across both markets and residential areas. The lack of planning by electricity staff has resulted in hanging clusters of power lines that run dangerously close to balconies and terraces. Uniform guidelines for wire installations must be established and strictly enforced.
Neha Saini, Chandigarh
End commercial use of basements
Recent fire incidents across the country highlight serious concerns regarding safety compliance. In Chandigarh, the basements of several hotels, restaurants, and commercial establishments—particularly in Sectors 35 and 43—are routinely misused as banquet halls and dining areas, posing severe risks during emergencies. Equally concerning is the reported use of basement areas in government institutions and hospitals for public services like Outpatient Departments (OPDs) and physiotherapy units. If these setups contradict approved building plans, they deserve immediate review. Rules must be enforced uniformly across both private and government establishments.
NK Jhingan, Chandigarh
Hold clearing officials accountable
Fire safety measures should be mandatory for all PG accommodations and commercial buildings. The government must verify the installation of extinguishers, emergency exits, adequate spacing, and fire alarms before permitting any building to operate. Regular surprise checks are the best way to keep safety violations at bay. While managing hanging wires, congested streets, and haphazard parking is the government’s responsibility, there must also be accountability for the officials who grant safety clearances. Any breach of duty should result in strict penalties, dismissal, and imprisonment.
Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali
Public preparedness key in congested areas
During a fire, swift rescue and immediate assistance are paramount. However, fire brigades are often delayed due to congested roads, making it vital for the public to be prepared for contingencies. regular mock drills can help citizens make the most of limited emergency resources. Furthermore, regular inspections by safety officers are the need of the hour. Officials sanctioning building blueprints must ensure that structures do not violate safety norms and that ample space is left for fire tenders to navigate. Broad lanes must become a foundational element of modern urban architecture.Avi Charu Malhotra, Mohali
Address multi-faceted risks in Chandigarh
Much needs to be done to ensure comprehensive fire safety in Chandigarh. Crammed cubicles, poor ventilation, heavy dependence on air conditioning, and single entry-exit routes on top floors present severe hazards. The risks are worsened by flammable construction materials, hanging power lines, a lack of firefighting equipment, and narrow lanes blocked by haphazard parking. Furthermore, the casual approach to fire certification and the misuse of residential spaces for commercial activities like PG accommodation, eateries, and nightclubs create high-footfall hazards. These multi-layered issues must be systematically addressed by the administration.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Set up independent inspection teams
The fire safety compliance of Tricity buildings cannot be verified without independent oversight. Currently, very few buildings fully adhere to safety norms. Traditional inquiries often result in paltry compensation for victims without providing long-term solutions. Independent teams from fire safety institutes should be formed to audit structures. Many building owners bypass requirements through corruption, leaving properties equipped with expired, leaking extinguishers intended purely for display. High-rise buildings frequently lack automatic extinguishing systems and access routes for fire engines, an issue that requires immediate rectification to prevent fatal accidents.
Wg Cdr JS Minhas (retd.), Mohali
Modernise equipment and boost awareness
Fire incidents are becoming increasingly common in highly populated residential areas across both urban and hilly regions. Despite having adequate regulations, ground-level implementation remains weak. The government must focus on strict enforcement and regular inspections while investing in modern firefighting vehicles equipped with the latest technology. Simultaneously, public awareness camps should be systematically organised in schools and communities. Enhancing public knowledge on how to respond to emergencies will drastically reduce the loss of life and property.
Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh
Clear access roads for emergencies
Fire safety certificates must be a mandatory prerequisite for building plan approvals and trade licences. Local enforcement teams must permanently clear unauthorised vendors and vehicles from market access roads to ensure unhindered movement for emergency vehicles. Furthermore, the administration must upgrade its firefighting fleet with modern equipment, as outdated gear causes extensive delays. Finally, properly maintaining electrical wiring is critical, as faulty lines remain a primary trigger for tragedies.
Sucha Singh Sagar
Treat minor fires as warning signs
The Tricity has already witnessed major fire catastrophes, including the Sector 22 market fire, the Sector 17 NIELIT building fire—which claimed the lives of four firefighters—and the Sector 26 club fire. Multiple audits have identified hundreds of establishments operating without valid fire NOCs due to weak follow-up enforcement. Short circuits caused by aging wiring and overloaded electrical systems are major vulnerabilities, even within public institutions. While Chandigarh’s planned layout and inter-city resource pooling prevent Delhi-scale disasters for now, these incidents must be treated as warnings. Mandatory annual audits, periodic mock drills, and upgraded response capacities are vital.
Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh
Focus on upgrading older buildings
The design of new commercial complexes, high-rise residential developments, and institutional buildings in the Tricity increasingly complies with modern fire safety codes. While authorities have stepped up inspections in public buildings, retrofitting older structures remains a challenge due to associated costs and maintenance issues. Fire safety must not be viewed as mere red tape; it is a critical aspect of urban resilience. Frequent
audits, public education initiatives, and strict code compliance are necessary.
Shubham Kathpalia
QR codes to verify fire compliance
Public places like hotels, hospitals, and cinema halls must be strictly certified by the fire department before completion orders are issued. Existing buildings should be thoroughly vetted by expert professionals, with a strict timeline enforced to rectify abnormalities. Heavy penalties must be imposed on defaulters, and clear access for fire tenders must be guaranteed. Furthermore, a QR code should be displayed on all commercial buildings, allowing the public to verify who issued the NOC, the date of the next review, and the contact details of the safety system contractor.
Sqn Ldr Manjit Singh Johar (retd.), Chandigarh
Adopt stricter legal frameworks
To prevent urban tragedies, the Tricity needs stricter laws and better planning. All buildings must be equipped with working, ISI-marked extinguishers, hose reels, and unblocked escape routes. The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation’s proposal to lower the threshold for mandatory fire clearance from 15 metres to 9 metres is a step in the right direction, as it brings more hotels, schools, and mixed-use buildings under legal scrutiny. Furthermore, adopting the stricter Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2022, will empower officers to seal hazardous premises and impose severe penalties, including jail time and heavy fines.
Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh
Question for next week
With frequent incidents of shooting, murders and extortion, do you think gangsterism is taking root in Chandigarh?
Suggestions in not more than 150 words (with mug shots) can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com by Thursday (June 18).
