About eight years ago, the Bureau of Indian Standards published a ?code of practice? for fire safety in educational institutions. If only the state educational departments had taken cognisance of this code and enforced it, there would not have been a tragedy of the magnitude that we saw in Kumbakonam last year.

The code basically looks at three aspects pertaining to fire safety: (a) fire prevention measures, (b) early warning systems and (c) measures to minimise destruction and prevent injuries and death in case of a fire. The part dealing with preventive measures, for example, looks at the building: the quality of construction, occupant load, exits, corridors, passage ways, doorways and staircases. Next, it lays down guidelines for the safety of electrical equipment and electrical wiring, so as to prevent short circuits. The code also specifies the various systems that need to be installed, including water tanks and fire pumps, to deal with a fire. It also refers to fire detection and alarm systems .

It would be prudent for state governments to make the code mandatory for at least primary and pre-primary schools. Of course, fire safety goes well beyond the code. If the school for example, has a canteen, those running it should exercise utmost care to prevent fires. Similarly, the school has to ensure that if temporary structures are built for annual day celebrations, only fire-proof materials are used.

Schools should look at all aspects of safety, not just fire safety. For example, playgrounds and play equipment will have to be constructed in such a way as to prevent injuries. Similarly, if the school is in a seismic zone, then the building should be quake-resistant. Even school buses ought to follow all safety guidelines.

The lack of awareness has led to many accident in the past. In 1995, for example, hundreds of school children died during annual day celebrations in Dabwal, Sirsa, because the school had paid no attention to fire safety while holding the function in a make-shift shamiana.

In 1977, an overcrowded school bus plunged into the Yamuna river in Delhi, resulting in the death of 28 children. More recently, an eight-year-old girl sustained serious injuries when a glass pane from the first floor of the school came hurling down on her.

During the Gujarat earthquake, several school children paid a heavy price for the poor construction of buildings. In Ghodasar, 32 children were buried alive when the poorly constructed building collapsed during the earthquake in 2001.

It?s time parents? bodies, citizens and consumer groups began a movement for safer schools.