Following the Goa fire incident, Uttarakhand Police is on high alert; the DGP has ordered fire safety audits of all establishments

A devastating fire at a nightclub in Goa claimed the lives of 25 people, leaving many others severely burned. Nine people from Uttarakhand also perished in the tragedy. Following the Goa fire, Uttarakhand is on high alert regarding such incidents. The Director General of Police (DGP) has ordered fire safety audits of all establishments in the state within the next week.

Uttarakhand Police learns from Goa nightclub fire: Instructions have also been given to strengthen security and operational arrangements on the winter Char Dham pilgrimage routes. A high-level review meeting on fire safety audits and crime and law and order was held on Thursday via video conferencing, chaired by Uttarakhand DGP Deepam Seth, with senior officers and superintendents of police from all districts, including the Garhwal and Kumaon ranges, as well as the Railway Police and STF.

Instructions for fire safety audits in establishments: In light of the Goa fire, the DGP has issued guidelines regarding fire safety measures for public safety in the state. All district heads have been instructed to coordinate with the District Magistrate to conduct comprehensive fire safety audits of all establishments in the state, such as cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, banquet halls, event venues, malls, etc., where large numbers of people gather, especially in view of the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Strict action against violations: A thorough inspection of the availability, functionality, and adequacy of all fire safety equipment has been ordered. It has been emphasized that all fire hydrants installed in public and commercial areas must be fully functional. All sensitive establishments must have adequate fire-fighting equipment, fire extinguishers, clearly marked emergency exits, and ensure that these exits are kept unobstructed. It has also been ordered that the staff employed in these establishments receive regular fire-fighting training. The DGP further stated that regular surprise inspections of sensitive establishments should be conducted, and strict action should be taken against any violations of the norms.

In addition, other important instructions were also given:

• Instructions were given to the districts regarding the safety of devotees, crowd management, emergency response system, and traffic control during the winter Char Dham pilgrimage.
• A review was conducted of the special campaign run by the headquarters regarding the arrest of wanted accused in serious crimes, the return of prisoners released on parole and bail to jails, and the confiscation of illegal property, and instructions were given to take further action.
• Pending cases involving commercial quantities under the NDPS Act should be disposed of within the stipulated time frame.
• Action should be taken against professional criminals under the Gangster Act and NDPS Act, and illegally acquired properties should be confiscated as per rules.
• Instructions were also given to complete the upcoming departmental promotion process in a timely manner for the benefit of police personnel.