Lucknow: The fire at Jawahar Bhawan has again brought focus on fire safety preparedness in buildings.Official records show that the fire department had issued notice to the Jawahar Bhawan administration on July 30, 2025, highlighting several critical shortcomings in the building’s fire protection systems. The notice pointed to the absence of adequate emergency exit routes, a functional automatic sprinkler system, and a proper smoke extraction mechanism, all of which are essential for safe evacuation during a fire.The notice directed the building management to rectify the deficiencies and ensure compliance with fire safety norms. It’s unclear whether the recommended measures were implemented before Monday’s blaze.Fire safety experts say the shortcomings pointed out in the notice were among the most critical safeguards in any high-occupancy public building.“Adequate emergency exits ensure occupants have multiple escape routes if the primary exit is blocked by flames or smoke, reducing the risk of stampedes and entrapment. Automatic sprinkler systems are designed to detect and suppress a fire in its early stages, slowing its spread and buying valuable time for evacuation before firefighters arrive. Smoke extraction systems, meanwhile, remove toxic smoke and heat from corridors and stairwells, keeping escape routes visible and breathable,” said fire safety expert Shakti Mohan Singh.Another expert, Jawahar Chaudhary, who is also a town planner, noted that in most building fires, fatalities occur due to smoke inhalation rather than burns, making these systems indispensable for protecting lives and facilitating rescue operations.He cautioned that whether the absence of these measures had any impact on Monday’s fire at Jawahar Bhawan can only be determined after the official investigation.Fire officials are expected to examine whether the deficiencies identified in last year’s notice had any bearing on the spread of the blaze or the evacuation process. Investigators will assess whether the building administration complied with the directions issued by the fire department.Senior govt officials have ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident, including the exact cause of the fire and the building’s adherence to prescribed fire safety standards. The investigation is also likely to review maintenance of firefighting equipment, emergency evacuation procedures and overall compliance with the fire department’s earlier recommendations.
