Unsafe buildings in Hyderabad to face Fire Services axe

​Hyderabad: The Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department is all set to take action against the establishments and institutions being run from the buildings which have been found unsafe.

As a first step in this direction, the department on Thursday dispatched separate letters to four government departments concerned, recommending suspension of all kinds of licenses granted to Katriya Hotels.

It may be recalled that fire broke out on the upper floors of the Katriya Hotel at Somajiguda on January 10. The fire services officials found that the hotel was being run without obtaining no objection certificate (NOC) from the State disaster response and fire services department.

Following the accident, fire services officials inspected the hotel having three star rating and found that the fire fighting systems in the hotel are dysfunctional at the time of fire as they remained switched off.

Since the nine storey building of the three star hotel was found unsafe, the Fire Services Department has launched prosecution against the management and also sent letters to the GHMC, Water Works, Prohibition and Excise and the City Police, asking them to suspend all sorts of licenses to the hotel.

Since the Fire Services Department has no powers either to cancel or seal the decrepit buildings, it has no other option but to write to the authorities concerned. It is up to the respective departments to initiate immediate action, a senior fire services official told The Hans India.

“This is the first time we have taken such action. We have made a beginning and we will take this ahead to prevent loss of lives in fire mishaps in the larger interest of the society,” the official said.

The department is planning to write similar letters to authorities concerned seeking suspension or cancellation of licenses granted to Paramita Children’s Hospital, Srikara Hospitals, Matrix Hospital, Apollo Hospital in Hyderguda, Indo US Hospital Trust, Leo Meridian Infrastructure Projects and Hotel at Shameerpet, Narayana College in Kukatpally, Sri Chaitanya Techno School in Madhuranagar and several others since prosecution has already been launched against them after the buildings were found unsafe, the official said.