SRINAGAR: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has urged the government to implement essential fire safety measures across industrial estates in the Kashmir Valley to safeguard industrial units from fire disasters.
This call to action follows a recent visit to the Industrial Estate Sopore by a high-level FCIK delegation, led by Advisory Committee Member and former President M.D. Qureshi. Accompanied by Shakeel Qalander, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, Syed Fazal Illahi, Zain ul Abideen, Haji Mohammad Ashraf, Mohammad Imran, and others, the delegation expressed solidarity with Ishfaq Ganai, owner of Habib Enterprises, which was destroyed by a severe fire on Wednesday evening.
During the visit, the President of the Industrial Estate Sopore, Javid Ahmad Bhat, along with other members, highlighted significant infrastructure deficiencies, especially the lack of sufficient firefighting resources within the estate.
“This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the critical gaps in fire safety infrastructure across Kashmir’s industrial estates,” the Chamber remarked. Notably, this is the third major fire in the past month, following similar incidents at Alkaram Polymer in IGC Lassipora and Northern Steel Industry in Burzalla, resulting in substantial financial losses and underscoring the vulnerability of industrial units.
To address these issues, FCIK has called for a comprehensive infrastructure audit across all industrial zones in Kashmir, focusing on both structural integrity and fire safety readiness. The Chamber stressed the need for centrally located water reservoirs in each industrial estate to ensure a reliable water supply for firefighting and has recommended that these reservoirs be positioned for easy access by fire brigades in emergencies.
“Additionally, industrial estates should be equipped with strategically distributed water hydrants, allowing each unit immediate access to water in the event of a fire,” said Qureshi. He further emphasised the importance of establishing fire stations within each estate to ensure that professional firefighting personnel are on-site or on standby.
“For estates with existing fire stations, an immediate review and enhancement of facilities, equipment, and manpower is necessary,” he added.
FCIK also urged estate-based associations to encourage businesses to install their own fire safety systems, such as alarms, extinguishers, and sprinklers, and to conduct regular fire drills to ensure smooth and efficient emergency responses.
The Chamber recommended collaborative efforts with local fire safety experts to ensure access to modern firefighting equipment and trained personnel. Seeking the intervention of the Deputy Chief Minister, FCIK emphasised that investment in fire safety should be viewed as both a preventive measure and a long-term commitment to the safety of workers, businesses, and the regional economy.
