Anaj Mandi Fire Tragedy - Delhi

Why in news?

At least 43 were dead and 16 were injured in a fire at an illegal factory in Anaj Mandi area, north Delhi.

What are the shortcomings identified?

Most of the workers came from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and virtually slept at night next to the machines they worked on.
Probe should reveal if the victims were locked in and obstructed by materials stacked on staircases.
In that case, the culpability of those responsible would be enormously higher.

What are the larger concerns?

The Anaj Mandi tragedy is the latest in a long list of fatality-causing fires in the national capital.
All of such incidents were invariably the result of lax vigilance and rule-breaking by local authorities.
The tragedy is yet another reminder for the dangerous conditions of the country’s industrial units.
Poorly paid labourers live and work in several residential buildings turned into unregistered factories.
The factory and other such units are allowed to function illegally, without safety audits.
Slums and crowded residential areas take up the bulk of the city’s space.
These spaces are all much prone to fire hazards.
State and central governments, which divide the city’s administration between them, blame each other.

What lies ahead?

Neither the Delhi government nor the Centre, which has control of law and order in the national capital, can escape responsibility.
The building’s owner and the manager have been arrested to pacify public anger.
Initial financial relief has also been announced for the victims in the Anaj Mandi fire.
But, it is to be seen whether any punitive action will be taken against complicit local municipal officials.
Political parties, civil society and government must chart a new course, with a plan to make the older, built-up areas safe.
Also, rules under the new occupational safety code must be strong enough to protect workers.

Source: The Hindu, Business Standard