Cuttack, Feb. 3: The district administration has found serious lapses in the fire security measures of Jehovah Jioreh Children’s Home at Bidanasi, which was gutted in a major fire last night.

All the inmates of the children’s home, however, were rescued in time by the officials. Senior officials of the child welfare committee today visited the children’s home for an on-the-spot verification along with the district social welfare officer and fire officials.

“There was no fire extinguisher or other equipment in the home which are necessary to deal with any fire-related mishap,” said district social welfare officer Tuna Behera.

City fire officer Chandramohan Routray also admitted that the fire safety guidelines of the National Buildings Code have been violated in the children’s home.

Behera said they had come to find out the cause of fire and the extent of damage and to ascertain whether the home authorities had adopted proper fire safety measures.

“The home authorities have applied for recognition and registration, which has been pending before the state government,” said child welfare committee member Rini Mohanty. A survey conducted last year had revealed that out of the total 16 orphanages and children’s homes in Cuttack, only four were registered with the state government .

In another development, the district administration has decided to convene a meeting with all the officials of various orphanages and rehabilitation centres to review and upgrade the fire safety measures at their respective institutions.

“We will create awareness and ask the fire service officials to review the fire safety measures at various old age homes, working women’s hostels and orphanages in the city,” said district collector Girish S.N.

Girish further said that the district administration had asked various unregistered orphanages and other childcare institutions to register themselves with the government at the earliest.

“All of us were attending the home’s foundation day celebrations when we came to know about the fire. It is for the first time that such a fire mishap had occurred here. However, we will adopt necessary fire safety measures,” said the home’s secretary Samuel Pattnaik.