In the wake of the devastating fire at a restaurant in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar that claimed at least 21 lives on Wednesday, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has decided to intensify safety checks at eateries across the city. The move aims to prevent similar accidents and ensure public safety.
RMC Commissioner's Statement
RMC commissioner Sushant Gaurav stated that while the civic body routinely conducts inspections and takes action against violators, the recent incident in the national capital has prompted the administration to step up enforcement. "We are already monitoring safety norms and periodically carrying out drives. Eateries or any business establishment in the city must obtain a trade licence from RMC to operate, and require a no-objection certificate (NOC) for fire safety from the fire department. However, RMC regularly monitors any kind of rule violation to ensure public safety. In view of the Delhi incident, we will now roll out intensive drives to check whether all eateries are equipped to handle any kind of fire accident and avert tragedies," Gaurav told TOI.
Previous Fire Incident in Ranchi
A bar-cum-hotel in the city's Karamtoli area was destroyed in a fire in May, but no casualties were reported. This incident had already raised concerns about fire safety in the city.
Residents' Concerns
Concerns have mounted among residents as many eateries operate in congested localities such as Upper Bazar and Main Road. Residents claim that several establishments in these areas do not follow regulations, and narrow lanes along with dense construction could hinder firefighting operations in case of a blaze. A shopkeeper in Upper Bazar, Satish Kumar, said, "The Delhi incident has once again highlighted the situation of numerous eateries in our area which attract a large number of customers and do brisk business. However, the approach roads are extremely narrow and congested with vehicles parked on both sides. If a fire similar to the one in Delhi breaks out, the situation could be far worse, as there is hardly any space left for access to fire tenders."
Restaurant Owners' Association Response
Ranjan Kumar, president of Jharkhand Bar and Restaurant Owners' Association, said there are around 1,000 restaurants operating in the city. "All the eateries follow fire safety norms, including separate entry and exit gates for emergency situations, availability of fire extinguishers, and trained staff for their operation. Restaurant owners train their staff on handling equipment on a regular basis," he added.
Chief Minister's Reaction
In a post on X, Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Delhi fire. "The heartbreaking news of the loss of lives in the fire at a hotel in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, has left me deeply distressed. May Marang Buru grant peace to the souls of the departed and provide strength to the bereaved families to endure this hour of grief. I pray for the swift recovery of those injured in the incident," he wrote.
