Ghaziabad Fire Department Uncovers Widespread Fire Safety Violations in Cloud Kitchens
The Ghaziabad Fire Department has taken decisive action by submitting a comprehensive list of 62 cloud kitchens operating throughout the city to the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA). This move comes with an urgent plea for enforcement measures to address significant fire safety risks that threaten densely populated residential areas.
Alarming Statistics Reveal Systemic Non-Compliance
According to official statements, a mere five establishments among the identified cloud kitchens possess the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department. This represents less than 10% compliance with essential fire safety regulations, highlighting a widespread disregard for public safety protocols.
The investigation was initiated following a Times of India report published last month that exposed hazardous practices within the city's 24x7 cloud kitchen operations. Fire department officials conducted thorough surveys of facilities operating from basements, residential flats, and building setbacks within high-rise towers.
Dangerous Storage Practices Pose Explosion Risks
The original report had specifically highlighted how these commercial kitchens frequently store liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders far beyond legally permitted limits. Officials have issued stern warnings that cylinders positioned in narrow corridors, adjacent to hot ovens, or concealed within cupboards could trigger catastrophic explosions in the densely packed buildings where these kitchens operate.
During their comprehensive survey, fire department personnel discovered that:
- Indirapuram zone hosts 28 operational cloud kitchens, with 12 concentrated within Jaipuria Sunrise Greens in Ahinsa Khand 1
- Kavinagar zone contains 10 such facilities
- Shalimar Garden and Sahibabad each house approximately six cloud kitchens
- The remaining establishments are distributed across other parts of the city
Operating Without Proper Authorization
"While maximum cloud kitchens are operating in the basements of either marketplaces or high-rise societies, a few are even operating on the second and third floors of high-rise societies," revealed a fire department official. The official further disclosed that 49 cloud kitchens are functioning without necessary permissions from either the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation or food regulatory departments.
Current regulations strictly limit restaurant establishments to storing no more than two gas cylinders at any given time. However, the survey uncovered that every cloud kitchen inspected maintained at least two LPG cylinders, with some facilities storing up to eight cylinders simultaneously—quadruple the legal limit.
Previous Tragedy Highlights Ongoing Dangers
The fire risks associated with these operations are not merely theoretical. In 2019, a major fire erupted in the basement of L Block at Jaipuria Sunrise Greens in Indirapuram's Ahinsa Khand 1, precisely where a cloud kitchen was operating. The blaze triggered a series of explosions when LPG cylinders stored in the basement caught fire, requiring more than five hours and over a dozen fire tenders to bring the situation under control.
Sana Sayed, a resident of the affected society, expressed frustration with the slow response: "Since the accident, we have run from pillar to post to draw the attention of the authorities to this situation, but nothing happened. Over the past three weeks, following media reports and a protest march, the fire department has conducted a survey on cloud kitchens, which proved that our apprehensions were not unfounded."
Limited Safety Measures and Enforcement Promises
The official survey noted that a small number of kitchens utilized gas pipelines or electric stoves and had installed customary fire extinguishers. However, these minimal safety measures fail to compensate for the fundamental violations of storage limits and operating without proper certifications.
A GDA official has assured that action will be forthcoming: "With the survey report on illegal cloud kitchens in our hand, we will soon take action against them." This commitment follows increased public pressure and media attention that has finally prompted systematic investigation into these hazardous operations.
The fire department's findings underscore a critical public safety issue that requires immediate regulatory intervention to prevent potential tragedies in Ghaziabad's residential communities.
