Kochi: District Collector K Muhammed Y Safirulla on Tuesday issued notices to five shopping malls and five theatres in the city asking the owners to rectify shortcomings and set in place a proper security apparatus, including Fire safety measures, within a month. This was a result of the Fire and Rescue department submitting a report on the safety inspection carried out in major highrise buildings post the fire incident at the Oberon Mall on May 16. As many as 106 highrise buildings in the city reportedly fail to meet standards and action is being taken against the malls and theatres initially.
“The report also includes rectification measures to be taken by the buildings. A direction has been given to the Fire department to submit the final report on the security scenario of the malls and theatres before July 15,” the collector said. R. Prasad, Divisional officer of Fire and Rescue Service, said many of the theatres in the city were functioning out of old buildings which did not have adequate safety features. “No permanent safety features are provided in such buildings. In many buildings, the fire exits were found closed,” the officer said. One of the main shortcomings in safety features in malls was the setting up of immovable glass panels which prevent smoke billowing out in the wake of fire tragedies, sources said.
