Bandra fire: BMC to beef up fire safety measures in malls across Mumbai

After Tuesday's fire in Bandra, the BMC has now decided to beef up fire safety measures in malls across the city. Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta has asked these malls to upgrade and maintain their fire fighting equipment, remove all encroachment, to keep the minimum amount of open space required among other things.

A committee of civic officials has been formed in the matter which will do routine inspection of these malls. The decision was taken in a meeting convened by Mehta and attended by additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Ram Dhas, Chief Fire Officer P S Rahangdale and others.

The fire chief said that there were several illegal alterations inside the mall and wares were stocked in lofts, staircases and other open spaces. A car lift was also found to be converted into shops. He also pointed out that there was no fire-fighting equipment in the mall and LPG cylinders were stocked there illegally. Considering these challenges, Mehta has now ordered the routine inspections.