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Fire at Mumbai’s Iconic Crawford Market

Don’t Let the Fire Burn-Out Our Heritage and Reduce It To Ashes…!!!

Rahul Jadhav, Director – Aarush Fire Systems Pvt. Ltd.

To add to Mumbai’s burgeoning woes owing to the Wuhan-Virus caused lethal pandemic; a massive inferno broke out at dream city’s iconic Crawford Market on June 11, 2020.

This heritage structure was originally named after named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of the city Construction of this historic treasure completed in 1869 and economic activity began in 1871.

Recently it has been renamed as “Mahatma Jyotirao Phule market” to honour Mahatma Jyotirao Phule – the legendary educationist and social reformist. With this prestigious history and heritage, the market houses several shops selling daily assorted household items such a vegetables, fruits, poultry, exotic pets, imported food items, etc. According to fire fighting authorities, the fire broke out in the north-end wing of the British-era edifice and it took almost three hours to douse the fire and bring the situation under control. With ground and mezzanine floors, the shops have been destroyed in the fire, which was doused around 9 PM. The shops inside the market were shut due to the COVID-19 crisis when the blaze erupted.

Image – Visuals of fire and smoke at Mumbai’s iconic Crawford Market

Image source – https://imgk.timesnownews.com/story/Mumbai_crawford_market_fire.jpg?tr=w-600,h-450,fo-auto

The swift intervention and response by the fire brigade seemingly helped avert a major incident. Reportedly, the situation had escalated to Level-2 from the initial Level-1 fire call. Police and medics have also been mobilised to help the rescue operations. The eventuality was exacerbate due to the presence of easily inflammable fodder like corrugated boxes, large stocks of packing material, bamboos, electrical installations and wirings etc. in the shopping area of the market. The wholesale market is just walking distance from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station – another iconic legacy structure of Mumbai, the erstwhile Bombay.

Fortunately, there were no reports of loss of human life or any other damage to life; but had it not been closed, it would have been a colossal disaster. Though the exact reason behind this incident is yet to be ascertained, it once again has highlighted the negligence and apathy towards fire safety compliances, in quintessentially crowded, chaotic and congested markets of India – the three “C” of Indian marketplaces.

Aarush Fire Systems Pvt. Ltd offers a comprehensive fire protection package including fire fighting systems, annual maintenance and regular training – for such facilities and units. It includes the installation and maintenance of fire extinguishers, Hose reel, heat detectors, Wet Riser, Sprinkler systems, courtyard hydrant, Smoke and Fire Alarm System (manual or automatic) etc. Floor indicators and Signages for fire alarms and fire extinguishers need to be provided at the lobbies, staircases, refuge areas and any other escape routes.

Besides that the most important part is training of fire fighting system. Regular training must be given to the tenets, security personnel and other staff. Mock fire drills must be conducted at regular intervals (ideally 2 times in a year).

Damage due to fire in cases like Crawford Market not only causes loss to life and material but to the heritage of our country and for that matter of the entire world. These structures are treasures troves of our society from the cultural and historic perspective. Hence, it is our collective and shared responsibility to protect them for the next generations.

 

 

 

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