Carlton Tower, Old Airport Road on Fire: The Story
March 5, 2010 – 2:59 pm
The Carlton tower on Old Airport road near the Domlur interchange (flyover) is a mixed usage building. It has both commercial and residential users. It features some good restaurants in this part of Bangalore city like TGI fridays, Indijoe etc. I have been to TGI Fridays a few times earlier. Carlton Tower came to lime light as on 23/02/2010 it caught fire. The cause of fire is said to be short circuit. This resulted in 3 people jumping to death and 6 choked to deaths, bringing the total death toll to 9.
I came to know about the fire even before I watched it on new at Office. I was informed by my mother was accompanying my sister who was admitted at Manipal hospital. She just told me some building near Manipal hospital has caught fire and injured people are being brought here. I was concerned if it was any building besides Manipal.
As the fire ravaged on, Bangalore came to know how unprepared we are to fight a disaster. Our disaster management is almost non existent. A prominent daily said, one of the fire brigade came but without water. The approved plan seems to be a lot different from what was actually constructed. There was no water in the building to fight fire. In high rise buildings there is supposed to be a certain amount of water to fight fire. However, they had 10 barrel of diesel on the terrace to add to the fire. Btw, glad to see fire safety water tanks in Manipal hospital. These builders who builds such death traps should be brought to books. They should understand that they are selling home not death traps. Police has as of now arrested only the maintainers of the building. The builder is absconding.
Few questions unanswered:
1. Why the emergency exit was locked
2. For such a big building there was no fire emergency plan
3. No water in the building to fight fire
Our fire services should be equipped with modern equipments so that can fight fire effectively. They should be more prompt in reaching the disaster zone as it is a matter of life and death.
Modern fire fighting equipments Bangalore fire services should look for:
1. Turntable Ladder
2. Jumping Cushion
3. Chutes
4. Smoke extractor
5. High pressure water pumps
