Following the massive fire at Kerala’s Thrissur station parking lot on Sunday that gutted over 500 bikes, mid-day does a safety check of parking spaces outside the city’s stations
The parking lot at Borivli station, which lacks fire-fighting equipment. PICS/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR
Two days after a massive fire broke out at the Thrissur railway station in Kerala, leaving more than 500 motorbikes gutted, mid-day visited two railway stations each on the city’s Central, Harbour and Western lines to assess whether or not their parking facilities are sufficiently equipped to prevent a similar calamity.
The parking lot on the eastern side of Andheri railway station
The Kerala blaze erupted in the two-wheeler parking area near the rear entrance of the station around 6.30 am on Sunday. Southern Railway said the fire did not originate from overhead equipment or any railway electrical installation.
The jam-packed parking facility at Thane station. PIC/RAJENDRA B AKLEKAR
The fire was brought under control within an hour. No casualties or injuries were reported. “About 100 bikes caught fire in about 5 minutes. The fire brigade arrived at the 16th minute, but despite efforts, the fire spread very fast as there was fuel in the tanks and many batteries of electric vehicles exploded,” an official said.
The Nerul station parking lot, which lacks fire extinguishers. PIC/MADHULIKA RAM KAVATTUR
Central Railway
Station: Thane Safety check: Has fire safety point
The ‘fire point’ at the Thane station parking lot. PICS/RAJENDRA B AKLEKAR
At this spot, there is a two-storey parking lot adjoining platform 1, which was jam-packed with two-wheelers on Tuesday. A handful of casually dressed attendants were manning the access point of the facility, keeping watch as two-wheelers entered and exited. Asked about fire training and disaster response, they looked confused and muttered the parking rate. “If you want to park a bike here, do it, or go elsewhere,” said one.
A closer look at the lot on the other side revealed a fire safety point near the station manager’s office with buckets to hold sand and water. However, given the scale of the parking lot and volume of two-wheelers here, this measure may prove to be inadequate. In an emergency, it may not be helpful at all.
Station: Kurla Safety check: No fire safety apparatus
The Kurla station parking lot
There is a small two-storey parking lot outside the station near the escalators. It has a small entry gate and otherwise is well-barricaded. However, the site was not manned. There is an RPF office nearby, which might have a fire extinguisher. This space been used as an electric bike point, but ever since the contract lapsed, it has been used for two-wheeler parking.
Voices
Mandar Abhyankar, commuter
‘Periodic fire safety audits, infrastructure upgrades, and consistent implementation of updated safety guidelines are essential to enhance preparedness and reduce the risk of untoward incidents at Mumbai’s railway stations. ’
Umesh Vishe, commuter
‘There are no safety devices or mechanisms in railway parking lots. Apart from this, no responsibility is taken by officials for whatever happens to vehicles.
Western Railway
Station: Borivli Safety check: No fire safety equipment
Safety check: No fire safety equipment
The parking lot at Borivli railway station, which lacks fire-fighting equipment. PICS/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR
On the east side, there are two open parking lots, one of which is used exclusively for two-wheelers. Both spots lacked fire safety equipment. Pay-and-park staff, who claimed to have been appointed by the BMC, manage the parking lots. “We ensure petrol doesn’t leak from any vehicle. So far, there have been no fires here,” said Azim Khan, one of the staffers.
Station: Andheri Safety check: No fire safety equipment
The parking lot on the eastern side of Andheri railway station
The situation was the same at Andheri station. Ashish Pathak, a two-wheeler rider who uses the facility daily, told mid-day, “At least 300-400 vehicles are parked at the eastern side of Andheri station daily. But still, there isn’t a single manual fire extinguisher around. Those who manage the parking lot have a small office. They could keep basic equipment there.”
Voices
Esha Patkar, Borivli resident
‘Considering the large number of electric vehicles being used nowadays, fire-extinguishing equipment is vital. The only fire extinguishers available are either on platforms or in station masters’ offices. Who will go there in emergencies?’
Prathamesh Jadhav, Andheri East resident
‘Considering how those managing parking lots move vehicles around recklessly, chances of petrol leakage and fires due to damage are high. Who will take the responsibility in such cases?’
Harbour Line
Station: Nerul
Safety check: No fire safety equipment
The Nerul station parking lot, which lacks fire extinguishers. PICS/MADHULIKA RAM KAVATTUR
There are open parking lots at either end of the station, but neither has any fire safety equipment. On a busy day, 300 two-wheelers and under 100 four-wheelers are parked on each side. A parking attendant said, “We have never heard the authorities even thinking about installing such equipment. We believe we can manage a small fire ourselves.”
Station: CBD Belapur
Safety check: Fire safety equipment in only one area
Fire equipment near the Metro station at the CBD Belapur parking lot
Over a thousand two-wheelers and 400 four-wheelers are parked here daily. But fire safety equipment is present only in a parking area near the Metro station. There are two water supply pipes at this spot, where there also exists a parking bay for fire engines. Attendants said they were taking steps to prevent fires.
Official Speak
A Central Railway (CR) spokesperson said that six to 12 fire extinguishers were always available on CR station premises and drills are regularly held to prevent mishaps. A Western Railway spokesperson said, “There are fire extinguishers and measures at all the parking lots and all such places.” Officials from the City and Industrial Development Corporation, responsible for the Harbour line, couldn’t be reached by press time.
BY/ TEAM MID-DAY
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