Investigating team’s report states that the electrical duct doors on many floors were open, helping the flames to fan out
A fire broke out at Sachinam Heights, at Tardeo, on January 22. Pic/Bipin Kokate
Though the authorities are yet to figure out what caused the deadly fire at Sachinam Heights in Tardeo last month, they now know how it spread from the first floor to the 20th. According to a report submitted by the investigating committee, the flames spread through the electrical duct and reached the floors wherever the duct doors were open.
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The metal doors weren’t properly closed because the cable and internet wires were poking out. On top of that, the duct had many flammable articles, like cricket bats, stumps, wooden plates, jute ropes and wheelchairs, states the report. The doors to the terrace were locked, which blocked the smoke plume.
The fire broke out in the 20-storey building on January 22, and claimed nine lives. Many others were also injured. The deceased were the residents of the 19th and 20th floors.
Assistant commissioner of D ward, chief engineer of mechanical and electrical department, deputy chief engineer of building proposal and deputy chief fire officer were appointed to investigate the incident thoroughly.
The fire largely spread on 14th, 16th, 19th and 20th floors, as the duct doors were open. Officials said that the duct generally has holes for wires to pass through, but in the building, the doors were kept open, causing the fire to spread rapidly on these floors. The distance between the duct and doors of the adjacent flats were less than two feet.
When the firemen reached the site to douse the flames, they found that the fire fighting measures in the society were non-functional. They had to break the terrace door for smoke to escape.
Fire fighting systems like risers and fire alarms were not working, and the security guards of the building weren’t trained to tackle the blaze, the report stated. It added that the building had not submitted its bi-annual fire reports.
Flat no. 1904 on the 19th floor was affected the most. There were two split ACs and other electric appliances like refrigerator, washing machine and TV. But the electric wiring of the flat was not affected and there was a miniature circuit breaker, so short circuit has been ruled out as the reason for the fire.
9
No. of people who were killed in the fire last month
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