Nandaram in flames

Calcutta, March 27: Rampant violation of all established fire norms was the main reason behind the 100-hour blaze at Nandaram Market here in January.

That’s the crux of a 111-page inquiry report, which a state-appointed committee prepared and submitted to chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb earlier this week.

“It is clear from the report that a disaster was just waiting to happen in Nandaram, as the building did not have any fire-fighting preparedness,” said D.P. Biswas, the additional director-general of the West Bengal Fire Services, who was on the seven-member committee.

The state home department constituted the committee, with representatives from police, fire services, Calcutta Municipal Corporation and CESC, on February 4.

Besides drawing from the FIR filed by the fire services department on January 18 — the day fire broke out in the building and the adjoining areas — the report includes the findings of the state forensic laboratory.

Accounts of witnesses and the statement of Nandaram owner Manik Sethia are annexed in the report.

The report, a copy of which is with The Telegraph, has slapped a number of charges against the owner and occupiers of Nandaram Market, including absence of fire safety certificate or licence and illegal storage of LPG cylinders at several shops.

Based on these charges, the fire services has filed a criminal proceedings against the owner and occupiers of the building.

But Sethia has denied the charges. “We had the requisite fire-fighting preparedness. I used to check the equipment regularly in Nandaram Market and Kashiram,” he said.