2019 Surat fire

On 24 May 2019, a fire occurred at a commercial complex in Sarthana jagatnaka area of Surat in the Gujarat state of India. Twenty-two students died and others were injured in an academic coaching centre located on the building's terrace.[1] The fire was started by a short circuit on the ground floor; the students in the coaching centre were trapped by the destruction of a wooden staircase. Three people were arrested for their alleged involvement or their alleged negligence leading to the fire and the deaths.

2019 Surat fire
Date24 May 2019 (2019-05-24)
Time3:45–4:00 p.m. IST
VenueTakshashila Arcade
LocationSarthana, Surat, Gujarat, India
Coordinates21°13′51″N 72°54′03″E
CauseElectrical short circuit
Deaths22
Non-fatal injuries19

Background

Fire safety regulations are poorly enforced in India. In the 2004 Kumbakonam School fire, 94 students died; subsequently, the Indian Supreme Court directed the government and schools to enforce strict fire safety compliance. On 26 November 2018, a student and a teacher died in an accidental fire at coaching centre located in the Vesu area of Surat, leading to the fire department officials of the Surat Municipal Corporation inspecting and sending notices to 230 coaching centres.[2][3] On 30 January 2019, 27 students were rescued from a coaching centre operating in a housing building when a fire broke out in a mattress shop on the ground floor.[3] In February 2019, 17 people died in a fire in a hotel in Delhi.[4]

Fire

The fire occurred at a commercial complex called Takshashila Arcade, located in the Sarthana area of Surat.[5] Smart Design Studio, a coaching centre, was operating in a makeshift dome built on the terrace of the building.[6] The fire broke out between 3:45 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. (IST). An electrical short circuit in air conditioner started a fire on the ground floor near a staircase on the rear side of the building. The fire quickly spread, engulfing the third floor and the makeshift dome on the terrace of the building. There were about 50 to 70 students in the coaching centre at the time.[5][7][8] Two shops and several vehicles parked near the building were also destroyed in another fire ignited by the blaze.[9]

The fire brigade arrived with 19 fire engines and two hydraulic platforms. They doused the fire in an hour and rescued several students; however, several had jumped off the building to save themselves.[10][11]

A total of 22 students died: 18 girls and 4 boys, aged between 15 and 22.[1][12] Of these, 16 students died due to fire or asphyxiation, 3 died as they jumped off the terrace of the building, and 3 succumbed to the fire-burns they sustained.[2][9][13] Three of the students who died had appeared for the Class XII exams of the Gujarat education board, the results of which were declared on 25 May 2019, a day after their deaths.[14] A further 16 students were admitted to hospital; a child aged three or four years old was also hospitalised with burn injuries.[12]

Investigation

The Surat Municipal Corporation officials ordered an investigation regarding the statutory permission, including fire safety, of the building.[11] The Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA) had approved the plan for a residential scheme on the site in 2001 but a commercial complex was built illegally in 2007. Under the Gujarat Regularization of Unauthorized Development Act, the complex with its second floor was legalised in 2013. The third floor was not legally approved. The coaching centre owner had also constructed a six-foot high makeshift dome illegally on the terrace. More than 50 burnt tires were also found on the terrace.[2][15] There was no fire safety equipment in the building. The students were trapped because the only way to the top floor was a wooden staircase which was destroyed by the fire.[9][13][15] Two fire officers were suspended for their alleged negligence in conducting the fire safety inspection of the building.[9][16]

Three people including the coaching centre owner and builders were arrested and the complaints against them were filed by the police.[16]

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had also ordered the investigation under Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department Mukesh Puri.[1][17] The National Human Rights Commission also issued a notice to the Government of Gujarat.[12]

Aftermath

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Vadodara Municipal Corporation issued notices to all premises housing children, containing orders to remain closed until they receive a fire safety compliance certificate.[17][18] Later, the Government of Gujarat ordered the shut down of all private coaching centres in the state until fire safety inspections are conducted. The government also ordered a fire safety inspection of schools, colleges, coaching centres, hospitals, shopping malls and other commercial buildings.[2][13] The Delhi fire service decided to conduct the fire safety inspection of all coaching centres in Delhi.[19]

Rupani visited the hospitals, offered condolences to the families and announced the compensation of ₹4 lakh (US$5,600) each to the families of children who died in the accident.[20] Several politicians expressed support and condolences, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Ashok Gehlot and Rahul Gandhi.[21][22][23]

See also

References
  1. "Number Of Deaths In Surat Coaching Centre Fire Rises To 22". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  2. "16 girls among 19 students killed in Surat fire tragedy". The Times of India. 25 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  3. "Surat fire: Three incidents in past six months, govt caught snoozing on rules". The Indian Express. 25 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  4. "20 Killed in Massive Blaze at Coaching Centre in Surat, CM Orders Fire Safety Audit of Schools & Malls". News18. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  5. "Surat Fire Live Updates: 15 dead at Takshashila Complex as helpless kids, teens jump off building". Business Today. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  6. "Surat fire: Gujarat: 19 killed in Surat building fire; many injured". The Times of India. 24 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  7. "Horrifying video of Surat coaching centre fire shows kids falling off second floor". India Today. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  8. "Surat fire: 20 killed; fire brigade arrives late, claim witnesses". www.aninews.in. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  9. "Two Fire Officers Suspended For Surat Fire, Coaching Centres Ordered Shut". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  10. "Surat fire: 19 killed in coaching centre blaze, horrific visuals show kids falling off burning building". India Today. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
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  12. "Surat fire tragedy death toll touches 22; NHRC issues notice to Gujarat government". Zee News. 26 May 2019. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  13. "Surat fire incident: Two arrested, three including coaching center owner booked as toll mounts to 20". The Financial Express. 25 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  14. "Three Of 20 Students Killed In Surat Coaching Centre Fire Pass 12th Exams". NDTV. 25 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  15. "Surat Fire: Complex Was An 'Illegally Built' Death Trap With No Way Out, Coaching Centre Owner Held". News18. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  16. Dasgupta, Manas (25 May 2019). "Surat coaching centre owner, 2 builders held". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019.
  17. "Surat fire accident live updates: Death toll rises to 20; CM orders probe". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  18. "After Surat fire, Vadodara MC asks to 152 coaching centres to remain shut till they acquire fire NOC". The Indian Express. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  19. "After Surat Incident, Delhi Fire Department To Conduct Safety Audit". NDTV. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  20. "Surat fire: Gujarat govt announces Rs 4 lakh compensation to victims' kin". Business Today. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  21. Srinivasan, Chandrashekar (24 May 2019). "Surat Fire: PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi And Gujarat Chief Minister Send Messages Of Support". NDTV. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  22. Dey, Stela (24 May 2019). ""Extremely Anguished," PM Tweets Condolences After Surat Fire Kills 18". NDTV. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  23. "Surat fire tragedy: 17 dead; Ministers offer condolences". Asian News International. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
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