Access to terrace crucial to save lives during fires, say experts
Times of India | 4 May 2025
12 In the March 2010 Stephen Court fire, 43 people lost their lives, many of whom were trapped behind a locked terrace door, gasping for breath in the smoke-filled stairwell. For those trying to escape upwards, the locked terrace became a death trap.
When a fire broke out at Rituraj Hotel in Mechhua on Tuesday, close to 30 panic-stricken guests and staff members rushed to the terrace to save their lives. According to the fire department and KMC officials, the toll could have been much higher if the terrace had been locked.
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According to fire department and civic officials and safety experts, access to the terrace is crucial during a fire and can play a significant role in saving lives, just as it did in the case of Rituraj Hotel.
"At least 50% of the roof should be kept free with absolutely no obstruction for a building's occupants to access in case of an emergency like fire. But there are many instances of societies in buildings locking the roof due to concerns about suicide. In commercial buildings like hotels, the roof is often completely enclosed with corrugated sheets and is converted into a utility area. They use a loophole in the KMC laws that allows temporary construction. But in case of an emergency, such a structure cannot be pulled down," said fire safety expert Tarak Chakraborty.
Rituraj Hotel's accessible terrace might have saved dozens of lives, but "that was more a matter of chance than planning", said a former fire department official. "Landlords often find ways around the law to shut the terrace on several pretexts like preventing suicide, theft, or encroachment. Without regular inspections and stricter penalties, these violations will continue," said Sourav Das, an ex-fire department officer.
Landlords of many buildings with a mixed-use nature (both commercial and residential) either let out the terrace as a godown or turn it into quarters for their staff. "While locking rooftops, people overlook the role a terrace plays in saving lives and evacuating people," said a KMC official.
Public safety advocates propagate better enforcement and strict punishment for those who lock the terrace. Many also suggest mandatory rooftop fire drills, transparent approvals for any kind of rooftop construction, and proper signage in commercial buildings. "Lessons from both Stephen Court and Rituraj Hotel are stark reminders. A locked terrace can be the difference between life and death," said Das. "Our members will comply fully and create additional safeguards. This order would also apply to the penultimate terraces and not intermediary terraces," said Credai Bengal President Siddharth Pansari.
In the March 2010 Stephen Court fire, 43 people lost their lives, many of whom were trapped behind a locked terrace door, gasping for breath in the smoke-filled stairwell. For those trying to escape upwards, the locked terrace became a death trap.
When a fire broke out at Rituraj Hotel in Mechhua on Tuesday, close to 30 panic-stricken guests and staff members rushed to the terrace to save their lives. According to the fire department and KMC officials, the toll could have been much higher if the terrace had been locked.
According to fire department and civic officials and safety experts, access to the terrace is crucial during a fire and can play a significant role in saving lives, just as it did in the case of Rituraj Hotel.
"At least 50% of the roof should be kept free with absolutely no obstruction for a building's occupants to access in case of an emergency like fire. But there are many instances of societies in buildings locking the roof due to concerns about suicide. In commercial buildings like hotels, the roof is often completely enclosed with corrugated sheets and is converted into a utility area. They use a loophole in the KMC laws that allows temporary construction. But in case of an emergency, such a structure cannot be pulled down," said fire safety expert Tarak Chakraborty.
Rituraj Hotel's accessible terrace might have saved dozens of lives, but "that was more a matter of chance than planning", said a former fire department official. "Landlords often find ways around the law to shut the terrace on several pretexts like preventing suicide, theft, or encroachment. Without regular inspections and stricter penalties, these violations will continue," said Sourav Das, an ex-fire department officer.
Landlords of many buildings with a mixed-use nature (both commercial and residential) either let out the terrace as a godown or turn it into quarters for their staff. "While locking rooftops, people overlook the role a terrace plays in saving lives and evacuating people," said a KMC official.
Public safety advocates propagate better enforcement and strict punishment for those who lock the terrace. Many also suggest mandatory rooftop fire drills, transparent approvals for any kind of rooftop construction, and proper signage in commercial buildings. "Lessons from both Stephen Court and Rituraj Hotel are stark reminders. A locked terrace can be the difference between life and death," said Das. "Our members will comply fully and create additional safeguards. This order would also apply to the penultimate terraces and not intermediary terraces," said Credai Bengal President Siddharth Pansari.