Fire mishap at working women’s hostel, inmates safe

Visakhapatnam: A fire broke out in a working women’s hostel located close to RTC Complex in the city last mid night. The working women’s hostel is run by a private management. Presently, 40 women are staying in the hostel. All the ladies escaped unhurt from the fire mishap. However, majority of the ladies lost their belongings including gold, cash and certificates in the fire accident.

Majority of the 40 inmates in the hostel were awake at the time of the incident. According to information, the firestarted on the top floor of the commercial complex due to short circuit.

The fire service personnel observed that the management of the hostel ignored fire safety norms. The women saw smoke emanating from the ceiling fan and alerted the hostel management. After few minutes, the fan fell down on coir mattress, which went up in flames. The inmates also alerted the police and fire service personnel and evacuated the building.

“Our valuables including cash, certificates, clothes and few others gutted in the fire mishap,’’ said one of the inmates. ``The fire mishap was the result of negligence by the hostel management,” she alleged. Fire Inspector N Gopikrishnahas said that they saved the lives of the inmates with timely action by controlling the fire.

``We would serve notices to the management of the hostel for violating the safety norms and running the hostel without obtaining NOC from the fire department,’’ he said. Demanding action against the hostel management, the inmates on staged a protest on Saturday.