Mumbai: The education committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday announced that all municipal schools will have fire safety equipment, and students and teachers will have training on fire safety by February 15.
The fire safety in schools was discussed at a committee meeting. “After the Kamala Mills compound fire, we have initiated the process of making all our schools fire safety compliant,” said Shubhda Gudekar, chairman of the committee.
Nationalist Congress Party corporator Sayeeda Khan, L-Ward, raised the lack of fire safety drills in schools. “There needs to be a formal order from the BMC stating that all schools, both government and private, should regularly conduct mock fire drills.”
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Corporators also highlighted that schools have a higher student capacity than in the past, and hence are congested. “Some schools have around 3,000 students. If a fire breaks out, how will all of them be evacuated?” said Ms. Khan.
Shiv Sena corporator Sheetal Mhatre from R-North ward said there needs to be a fire audit of all schools and the training should not just be limited to fire but all disasters. “The fire brigade will reach later, but teachers and staff, who are the first responders, need to be trained,” said Ms. Mhatre. Ms. Gudekar said training sessions with teachers and fire brigade officers are being undertaken across all wards.
Sainath Durge, a senior member of the committee, said the audit should extend to all forms of safety. “There was an incident recently when a child fell through the roof of a school while trying to collect a ball. The BMC must conduct a safety audit of all schools,” said Mr. Durge. Ms. Gudekar assured him that such an audit will be undertaken.
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