Delhi Police Cracks Down on Fire Safety Violations in Small Businesses After Recent Tragedies

Focus Intensifies Following Deadly Fire in Jafrabad; Fire Safety Audit Ordered in Government Buildings​

New Delhi, April 4 — In the wake of several fatal fire incidents, the Delhi Police has initiated a city-wide inspection drive targeting small businesses operating without adequate fire safety measures. Officials have raised concerns over the growing threat posed by these units to both workers and residents.

The decision follows a tragic incident on Thursday in northeast Delhi’s Jafrabad area, where a massive fire broke out in a small cloth stitching unit. The blaze claimed the life of 29-year-old Javed, who was unable to escape the flames in time.

According to police sources, more than 3,000 small businesses are operating across various areas of the national capital. Alarmingly, many of these establishments have never applied for a mandatory fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) and are not equipped with even basic firefighting tools.

“We have decided that teams will collect information about such businesses which are either running illegally or don’t even follow basic firefighting procedures. They will be asked to keep basic firefighting tools so they can save their lives during a blaze,” said a senior police officer.

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Fire-Related Casualties See Decline in 2024​

Despite the recent tragedies, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) data shows a notable decline in fire-related incidents and deaths in early 2024 compared to the previous year.

• January 2024: 938 fire calls, 6 deaths
• February 2024: 1,076 calls, 2 deaths
• Till March 11, 2024: 455 calls, 4 deaths

This marks a drop from January 2023, which had recorded 1,204 calls and 15 deaths, and February with 992 calls and 16 deaths.

However, long-term figures reveal that 116 people lost their lives in fire-related incidents in 2024, with peak fatalities recorded in June (29 deaths).

Government Orders Fire Safety Audit of Public Buildings​

In parallel with police efforts, the Delhi government has directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to conduct a comprehensive fire safety audit of all government buildings, with special attention to hospitals and health centres.

This audit will assess the presence and effectiveness of fire alarms, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, and other preventive infrastructure. The review is scheduled to be completed by April 15.

Raising Awareness and Accountability​

The police emphasized that their initiative will not only involve identifying non-compliant businesses but also educating owners—particularly those working with flammable materials—about the life-threatening risks and the operational hurdles faced by emergency responders.

“With this information, teams will be able to make those business owners aware about the fire incidents and the challenges police and firefighters face during their operation,” another officer said.

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As authorities ramp up vigilance and preventive measures, the focus remains firmly on protecting lives and avoiding a repeat of past disasters.