Kolkata fire: NHRC seeks report from West Bengal govt

New Delhi: NHRC on Friday sought a report from West Bengal government in connection with a major fire in Kolkata two days ago which left 20 people dead and several injured. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Chief Secretary of West Bengal and Commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports about the incident. It asked the state government to submit its report within four weeks.

The Commission has expressed concern over recurring incidents of fire and loss of several lives in Kolkata in the recent past, an NHRC statement said. The February 27 blaze in a five-storeyed godown-cum-office complex in Kolkata has left 20 dead and several others injured. Quoting media reports, the statement said a majority of the markets besides government hospitals including Kolkata Medical College and Hospital and Neel Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital, do not have adequate fire safety arrangements. Many markets and business establishments were operating without `no-objection certificate’ from the fire department, it said. The statement said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had herself admitted to this fact but it seems that a little had been done to guarantee fire safety. It said that the State has a responsibility to ensure safety of its people and that any failure on this score will amount to gross violation of human rights. PTI