The UT Government of Jammu and Kashmir has ordered a fire safety audit (FSA) of all hotels across Jammu and Kashmir. The order follows the instructions of Lt-Governor GC Murmu against the backdrop of the fire incident at a hotel in Gulmarg recently.
In this regard, the Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam, chaired a meeting with the Principal Secretary (Home), Director General, Fire and Emergency Services, and other senior officers in Kashmir and Jammu divisions through videoconferencing. “Any laxity or ignorance in handling electricity and heating gadgets in winters, especially hotels can put human life at risk.”
“It has been invariably noticed that fire incidents increase during the winter months,” an official spokesperson said, adding “To check fire incidents, it is essential that appropriate safety and control measures are in place. It is towards this end that the government has worked out a strategy aimed at fire risk assessment, identifying fire hazards, determining fire safety and control measures and having in place an evacuation plan and procedures in hotels to tackle any emergency situation or crisis”.
As part of the strategy, a fire safety audit of all hotels and guest houses across J&K will be conducted by a five-member team of officers to be constituted by the Divisional Administration of Kashmir and Jammu.
