Chandigarh: The MC fire and emergency services department has submitted a detailed report on the major fire that broke out in a commercial building in Sector 22-B on Wednesday afternoon, concluding that the top floor has developed significant cracks and is unsafe for any form of use. The report states that the building has suffered extensive structural and material damage, while a short circuit appears to be the preliminary cause of the blaze, which took nearly four hours to control.According to the findings, the top floor of the two-storey commercial structure has sustained major cracks as a result of the fire and the intense heat generated during the incident. The report terms the damage severe enough to render the floor unfit for entry or use. Officials have strongly recommended an immediate and comprehensive engineering assessment of the entire building to determine its structural stability and future usability. The fire department has advised people not to enter the building at this stage, even for removal of debris, due to the risk posed by the compromised structure.The report notes that the material on both the first and second floors has been completely burnt or damaged. Only the ground floor remains safe, with no major damage reported there. According to the fire department, the scale of destruction on the upper floors underscores the intensity of the blaze and the potential hazards created by structural cracks and the large volume of water used in the firefighting operation.Officials involved in the inspection stated that cracks on the top floor, combined with the impact of the water used — estimated to be between 2 lakh and 2.25 lakh litres — necessitate a detailed assessment by a structural engineer. “Since the cracks are major and a large amount of water was used to douse the flames inside the building in an almost four-hour operation, only the structural engineer can give the best advice on whether the building is sustainable for human habitation. Any use of the building will be dependent on the structural strengthening report. Prima facie, a short circuit seems to be the reason in preliminary inspection, which needs to be verified later,” sources told TOI.In the report, the fire department has also clarified that both buildings adjacent to the affected structure — on the left and right sides — are completely safe. Physical inspection by the fire team concluded that the adjoining buildings did not sustain any damage and can continue normal operations. Officials said timely response of fire personnel prevented the fire from spreading and protected nearby properties. “It was a major task for firemen to keep adjoining buildings safe. Nothing happened to the adjoining building as operation was started on time and adjoining buildings were saved from any damage,” sources said.The fire report has documented that the building housed seven tenants operating various businesses. There were two tenants on the ground floor, three on the first floor, and two on the second or top floor. The businesses included a photo lab and mobile phone and accessories’ shops. All the material on the first and second floors was destroyed in the fire, contributing to the heavy losses.Providing details of the firefighting operation, the report mentions that the fire and emergency services department deployed 12 vehicles, including fire tenders and hydraulic machines. Dozens of firemen were involved in the effort, which lasted nearly four hours before the flames were successfully brought under control. The scale of the operation reflected the seriousness of the incident and the difficulty in reaching the upper floors, where the fire caused maximum damage.Inderjeet Singh, joint MC commissioner/chief fire officer (CFO), told TOI that the condition of the building necessitates strict precautions. “Inspection of the building revealed that it developed cracks, therefore we have advised building occupiers and owners for detailed structural evaluation from the structural engineer, so that strength and related aspects of the building can be checked minutely. Till then, nobody is advised to use the building in any manner,” he said.He added that the department will soon reissue advisories to commercial establishments in the area to ensure they are adequately equipped to handle fire-related emergencies. Singh also emphasised that the prompt and coordinated action of fire personnel prevented the fire from spreading to neighbouring structures.Aftermath of the blaze— Fire department report says the top floor of the Sector 22-B commercial building has developed major cracks and is unsafe for any use — First and second floors suffered complete material damage; only the ground floor remains safe — Officials advise no entry into the building, even for debris removal, until a structural engineer conducts a full assessment — Preliminary inspection suggests a short circuit as the likely cause of the blaze, which lasted nearly four hours — Around 2 to 2.25 lakh litres of water and 12 vehicles, including hydraulic machines and fire tenders, were used in the operation — There were seven tenants in the building, running businesses such as a photo lab and mobile accessories shops — Fire officials confirm adjoining buildings are completely safe and suffered no damage — CFO Inderjeet Singh says fresh advisories will be issued to ensure commercial buildings are prepared for fire emergencies MSID:: 129703729 413 |
