Gurugram fire-safety survey is half done, with staff shortage slowing inspections

Gurugram’s fire-safety survey has reached the halfway mark after three months, with inspection teams pulled away for emergency firefighting duties, the fire department says.

The exercise began in June after a fire at an illegally operated B&B in Malviya Nagar, South Delhi, killed at least 23 people. Seven teams are conducting the survey, but each is also deployed to firefighting calls, said Narendra Yadav, fire safety officer for Sector 29.

The department has inspected 667 paying-guest accommodations, 94 hotels, 175 coaching centres, 157 restaurants and 11 guest houses. The tally of PG inspections has risen by 25 since July. A recent inspection update had flagged safety concerns at 667 Gurugram PGs.

Officials say the department has 248 officers and firefighters, against a requirement of around 500. Some fire workers and drivers are also participating in a statewide strike seeking regularisation of contractual staff and recruitment to vacant posts. Fire department staff have said they sometimes work for more than 12 hours a day.

At the present pace, officials expect the survey to take another six months.