Skylift failed, no backup plan: Probe blames MCD, fire service for Palam blaze
The 85-page enquiry report, submitted by the South West district magistrate, found that the failure of a Bronto Skylift during the rescue operation delayed evacuation efforts.
A magisterial enquiry into the March 18 fire in Delhi’s Palam that claimed nine lives has blamed serious lapses by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) for aggravating the tragedy.
The 85-page report, submitted by the South West district magistrate to the Delhi government's Home Department, also found that the failure of a Bronto Skylift during the rescue operation delayed evacuation efforts, questioned the technical competence of the assistant electrical inspector who led the statutory probe, and identified a probable short circuit as the cause of the blaze.
The report says that while the equipment reached the building on time, it shortly developed a technical snag during its initial deployment after its boom became entangled in overhead cables.
It has also pointed out that the authorities had no effective backup rescue plan or alternative high-rise rescue equipment, delaying evacuation until another Bronto Skylift arrived. The enquiry observed that by then, crucial time had been lost and several people trapped inside the building could not be rescued.
The magistrate's report also talks about significant regulatory and operational shortcomings that contributed to the severity of the incident. It cites deficiencies in the MCD's enforcement of safety norms, the presence of illegal overhead electricity cables and shortcomings in the preparedness of the Delhi Fire Service.
According to the enquiry, inadequate compliance with prescribed fire safety standards allowed the blaze to spread rapidly and complicated rescue operations.
THE SUSPECTED CAUSE BEHIND THE FIRE
The report identifies a short circuit near the ground-floor MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) box as the most likely cause of the fire. It says the initial spark quickly escalated into a massive blaze because of the large quantity of combustible material, particularly cosmetic products, stored inside the building. These highly inflammable goods fuelled the fire, engulfing the premises within minutes.
The enquiry has also raised serious concerns over the statutory investigation carried out after the incident. It notes that the assistant electrical inspector who led the legal probe lacked the necessary technical training for such investigations.
The report further states that in nearly half a dozen previous fire cases handled by the officer, the exact cause of the blaze could not be determined, raising questions over both the officer's technical competence and the credibility of the investigation process.
Based on the findings, the Delhi government has said corrective measures will be undertaken to address the shortcomings identified in the report. A senior government official said the Delhi Fire Service has recently recruited more than 500 personnel, is procuring modern firefighting equipment and has been directed to carry out regular technical inspections of rescue machinery to strengthen emergency response capabilities.
Meanwhile, the government said the magisterial inquiry into the June fire in Malviya Nagar has entered its final stages. South District Magistrate Lakshay Singhal has recorded statements of eyewitnesses and officials concerned, and the report is expected to be submitted to the Delhi government shortly. The findings will be used to determine responsibility and decide further action in that case.
A magisterial enquiry into the March 18 fire in Delhi’s Palam that claimed nine lives has blamed serious lapses by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) for aggravating the tragedy.
The 85-page report, submitted by the South West district magistrate to the Delhi government's Home Department, also found that the failure of a Bronto Skylift during the rescue operation delayed evacuation efforts, questioned the technical competence of the assistant electrical inspector who led the statutory probe, and identified a probable short circuit as the cause of the blaze.
The report says that while the equipment reached the building on time, it shortly developed a technical snag during its initial deployment after its boom became entangled in overhead cables.
It has also pointed out that the authorities had no effective backup rescue plan or alternative high-rise rescue equipment, delaying evacuation until another Bronto Skylift arrived. The enquiry observed that by then, crucial time had been lost and several people trapped inside the building could not be rescued.
The magistrate's report also talks about significant regulatory and operational shortcomings that contributed to the severity of the incident. It cites deficiencies in the MCD's enforcement of safety norms, the presence of illegal overhead electricity cables and shortcomings in the preparedness of the Delhi Fire Service.
According to the enquiry, inadequate compliance with prescribed fire safety standards allowed the blaze to spread rapidly and complicated rescue operations.
THE SUSPECTED CAUSE BEHIND THE FIRE
The report identifies a short circuit near the ground-floor MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) box as the most likely cause of the fire. It says the initial spark quickly escalated into a massive blaze because of the large quantity of combustible material, particularly cosmetic products, stored inside the building. These highly inflammable goods fuelled the fire, engulfing the premises within minutes.
The enquiry has also raised serious concerns over the statutory investigation carried out after the incident. It notes that the assistant electrical inspector who led the legal probe lacked the necessary technical training for such investigations.
The report further states that in nearly half a dozen previous fire cases handled by the officer, the exact cause of the blaze could not be determined, raising questions over both the officer's technical competence and the credibility of the investigation process.
Based on the findings, the Delhi government has said corrective measures will be undertaken to address the shortcomings identified in the report. A senior government official said the Delhi Fire Service has recently recruited more than 500 personnel, is procuring modern firefighting equipment and has been directed to carry out regular technical inspections of rescue machinery to strengthen emergency response capabilities.
Meanwhile, the government said the magisterial inquiry into the June fire in Malviya Nagar has entered its final stages. South District Magistrate Lakshay Singhal has recorded statements of eyewitnesses and officials concerned, and the report is expected to be submitted to the Delhi government shortly. The findings will be used to determine responsibility and decide further action in that case.
A magisterial enquiry into the March 18 fire in Delhi’s Palam that claimed nine lives has blamed serious lapses by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) for aggravating the tragedy.
The 85-page report, submitted by the South West district magistrate to the Delhi government's Home Department, also found that the failure of a Bronto Skylift during the rescue operation delayed evacuation efforts, questioned the technical competence of the assistant electrical inspector who led the statutory probe, and identified a probable short circuit as the cause of the blaze.
The report says that while the equipment reached the building on time, it shortly developed a technical snag during its initial deployment after its boom became entangled in overhead cables.
It has also pointed out that the authorities had no effective backup rescue plan or alternative high-rise rescue equipment, delaying evacuation until another Bronto Skylift arrived. The enquiry observed that by then, crucial time had been lost and several people trapped inside the building could not be rescued.
The magistrate's report also talks about significant regulatory and operational shortcomings that contributed to the severity of the incident. It cites deficiencies in the MCD's enforcement of safety norms, the presence of illegal overhead electricity cables and shortcomings in the preparedness of the Delhi Fire Service.
According to the enquiry, inadequate compliance with prescribed fire safety standards allowed the blaze to spread rapidly and complicated rescue operations.
THE SUSPECTED CAUSE BEHIND THE FIRE
The report identifies a short circuit near the ground-floor MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) box as the most likely cause of the fire. It says the initial spark quickly escalated into a massive blaze because of the large quantity of combustible material, particularly cosmetic products, stored inside the building. These highly inflammable goods fuelled the fire, engulfing the premises within minutes.
The enquiry has also raised serious concerns over the statutory investigation carried out after the incident. It notes that the assistant electrical inspector who led the legal probe lacked the necessary technical training for such investigations.
The report further states that in nearly half a dozen previous fire cases handled by the officer, the exact cause of the blaze could not be determined, raising questions over both the officer's technical competence and the credibility of the investigation process.
Based on the findings, the Delhi government has said corrective measures will be undertaken to address the shortcomings identified in the report. A senior government official said the Delhi Fire Service has recently recruited more than 500 personnel, is procuring modern firefighting equipment and has been directed to carry out regular technical inspections of rescue machinery to strengthen emergency response capabilities.
Meanwhile, the government said the magisterial inquiry into the June fire in Malviya Nagar has entered its final stages. South District Magistrate Lakshay Singhal has recorded statements of eyewitnesses and officials concerned, and the report is expected to be submitted to the Delhi government shortly. The findings will be used to determine responsibility and decide further action in that case.
