Unplanned urbanization has made Indian cities vulnerable to fire safety hazards. Discuss and recommend measures for mitigating urban fires, with special reference to national building code, 2016.

Unplanned urbanization has led to fire safety hazards -

i) No license audit of buildings existing in urban areas

ii) Lack of adherence to security guidelines while constructing buildings

iii) Construction on illegal land and in haphazard manner

iv) Lack of emergency exits, regular checking on wires in business or commercial buildings.

v) Lack of checks on license of construction contractors

vi) Red tapism and crony capitalism

There is a dire need for reforms by adopting MEASURES such as -

i) National Building Code 2016 - → Regular audit of buildings → Checks on licenses → Provisions of exits, smoke release, evacuation exits

ii) Maintenance of checks on regulatory bodies

iii) Prevent politicisation of the monitoring authorities