1 day ago
Fire Audit Tests Sprinklers at Trinamool’s Camac Street Office
Fire officials visited a building in Kolkata that contains a Trinamool Congress office.
They wanted to see whether its fire-safety equipment worked.
They made a small, controlled fire in the basement.
A sprinkler turned on and sprayed water.
They also tested smoke detectors, alarms, pumps and hosepipes.
The alarm worked, but an official said he was still unhappy with some parts of the fire-safety system.
Police separately drew a sketch of a staircase as part of an investigation into a recent dispute.
Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee said the inspection was politically motivated.
Fire officials tested sprinklers, alarms, pumps and hosepipes at the eight-storey building housing a Trinamool Congress office.
A controlled basement fire triggered a sprinkler, while smoke testing also activated the building’s alarm.
A senior fire official said he was not satisfied with the existing fire-fighting equipment and access arrangements.
Kolkata Police’s scientific wing sketched a staircase linked to alleged resistance during last Thursday’s billboard-removal operation.
Abhishek Banerjee accused the government of politically motivated scrutiny and compared the audit with alleged inaction over burned election equipment.
- Who
- The State Fire Department, Kolkata Police’s scientific wing, and officials associated with the Trinamool Congress office.
- What
- Fire officials audited the building’s safety systems, while police prepared a staircase sketch for an investigation into a recent scuffle.
- Where
- The eight-storey building at 9 Camac Street in Kolkata, including its basement and Trinamool Congress offices on the seventh and eighth floors.
- When
- The inspections took place on Monday afternoon, three days after the billboard-removal incident described by Abhishek Banerjee.
- Why
- The fire department said it was checking the building’s fire-safety arrangements; police were investigating alleged resistance during the removal of a rooftop billboard.
Fire-Safety Authorities
Trinamool Congress
Purpose of the inspection
Fire-Safety Authorities
Fire officials said the visit was a routine inspection of the building’s fire-safety arrangements and involved testing equipment and access for emergency vehicles.
Trinamool Congress
Abhishek Banerjee said the audit was sudden and politically motivated, describing it as scrutiny of an Opposition party office.
Assessment of the building
Fire-Safety Authorities
Officials said they were not satisfied with the existing fire-fighting equipment and wanted to verify the water source, pumps and other systems.
Trinamool Congress
The Trinamool Congress highlighted that the sprinkler and alarm tests worked and questioned why similar urgency was not shown over alleged fires involving election equipment.
Context of the visit
Fire-Safety Authorities
Authorities conducted the fire inspection separately from the police inquiry into the rooftop billboard-removal dispute.
Trinamool Congress
Banerjee linked the inspection to the dispute and accused the government of selectively showing concern for fire safety.
Key facts
- Building
- Eight-storey building at 9 Camac Street, Kolkata
- Fire test
- A controlled basement fire activated a sprinkler
- Alarm test
- Smoke testing caused the building alarm to sound
- Fire official’s assessment
- The official leading the inspection said he was not satisfied with the existing fire-fighting equipment
- Additional checks
- Officials examined water supply, pumps, hosepipes, smoke detectors and access for fire vehicles
- Police work
- The Kolkata Police scientific wing prepared a sketch of a ground-floor staircase
- Legal proceedings
- Two FIRs have been registered over the billboard-related incident
Quotes
Senior fire department official
Official leading or participating in the fire-safety inspection
“We are also checking whether the water source is adequate, whether the pump is operational and whether the fire equipment is working.”
telegraphindia.com
“The entrance pathway should not be covered. It should be kept open for fire vehicles to enter.”
telegraphindia.com
Abhishek Banerjee
Trinamool Congress national general secretary commenting on the fire audit
“Three days after illegally taking down our signboard, the BJP government has suddenly discovered an extraordinary devotion to fire safety.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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