3 delivery men killed in blaze at Rajkot building sans fire NOC for 10 years | India News

RAJKOT: Rajkot witnessed one other fire tragedy Friday when three delivery men died throughout a blaze inside a 12-storey upscale residential building that had not renewed its fire NOC for a decade.
Sources suspect {an electrical} quick circuit in an unoccupied sixth-floor flat of the Atlantis building the place furnishings work was underway and lots of wooden had been piled inside, presumably fuelling the flames.
Although Rajkot Municipal Corporation had issued two notices to Atlantis for NOC renewals, the tragedy raised questions on its “aggressive” fire security enforcement measures in the wake of the May 2024 TRP Game Zone blaze that had claimed 27 lives in the Gujarat metropolis. RMC fire officer Ashoksinh Jhala contended that no coercive motion was taken towards the administration of Atlantis “since it was a residential premises”.
Ajay Makwana (31), Kalpesh Leva (29), and his cousin Mayur Leva (27) had been caught in the inferno whereas delivering orders on the eighth and tenth flooring of the building. While descending in the carry, the three had been trapped as electrical energy was reduce off because of the fire. When the carry stopped at the closest ground, they took the steps, unaware of the spreading smoke. Asphyxiation because of the dense smoke proved deadly.
Those on seventh ground and above rushed to the terrace and escaped through a standard passage to an adjoining tower.
“Once negligence is established, we will register an offence,” DCP Jagdish Bangarwa informed TOI. RMC fire officer Jhala mentioned the building’s fire system was non-functional. “The NOC was last renewed in 2014. Despite notices issued in 2021 and 2023, no renewal was sought,” Jhala added.