Rajkot|
A routine morning in Rajkot turned into a nightmare when a massive fire engulfed the Atlantis Building, a posh residential complex on the 150 Feet Ring Road, killing three people and injuring one. The incident, which unfolded between 9:00 and 10:00 AM, has yet again exposed the lack of fire safety in India’s urban high-rises.
What Happened?
The fire broke out on the sixth floor of the Atlantis Building, reportedly during renovation work in the lobby. Initial investigations suggest a short circuit as the possible cause. However, residents claim that the building lacked proper fire safety measures, turning it into a death trap.
Three men—delivery personnel who were visiting the building—lost their lives, while another person is battling injuries in the hospital. Firefighters managed to rescue around 30 residents, preventing an even bigger disaster.
Who is Responsible?
This isn’t just a tragic accident; it’s a failure of accountability. Despite fire safety rules mandating regular checks, alarms, and functional extinguishers, high-rises across the country continue to flout these norms. In many cases, maintenance teams ignore safety audits, and authorities turn a blind eye until disaster strikes.
In this case, the Rajkot civic body must answer:
- Was the building following fire safety norms?
- Were there functional fire extinguishers and emergency exits?
- Why was renovation work allowed without safety precautions?
A City on Fire: A Larger Problem
This is not the first time Rajkot has witnessed such an incident. In May 2023, a gaming zone fire killed over 20 people, mostly children. And yet, no major changes in safety enforcement have been seen. It raises a crucial question—how many more lives will be lost before authorities wake up?
What’s Next?
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities claim they are probing safety lapses. But what happens after the media attention fades? Will this be just another tragedy added to the list of preventable deaths?
Rajkot, like many growing cities, is a hub of rapid urbanization, but if lives continue to be lost due to negligence and greed, the cost of development will be paid in blood.
Time for Action
- Stricter fire audits should be made mandatory for all high-rise buildings.
- Builders and management committees must face criminal charges if found guilty of negligence.
- Residents need to demand safety compliance before moving into buildings.
The Atlantis Building fire is not just about the three lives lost today; it’s about the hundreds who live in similar fire traps across the country. The question is, will this tragedy lead to real change, or will we be reporting another fire disaster next month?
