Residents initiate awareness drive

Mumbai: In a bid to prevent fire incidents, the residents of Tilak Nagar have started a fire safety awareness drive since the deadly fire that broke out in a high rise on December 27, 2018, claiming five lives.

The Tilak Nagar Residents Welfare Association (TNRWA) has undertaken the drive in co-ordination with the local police, traffic police and fire department officers.

The drive not only focuses on educating people about their response and action during eruption of fires but also tackles parking issues in the colony.

“Our first rally was on December 30, in which 300 residents participated. During the mock drill arranged on January 20, we asked the Wadala fire station officers to visit the colony with fire engines. However even that day, the fire engine got stuck due to vehicles parked on the roads”, said Nitin Nikam, president of the TNRWA.

There are around 125 high rises in Tilak Nagar and many lack adequate parking space. “There is great need to tackle the parking issue in the colony. Options like odd-even parking and marking no-parking zones are available. We have demanded that the traffic police and BMC come up with solutions to tackle the massive problem of parking in the colony. The next drive will be held on Saturday, February 9,” he said.

The residents of Tilak Nagar believe that the five lives could have been saved if fire operations had started early.

Due to double lane parking in the colony’s small lanes, the fire engines took time to reach the spot, delaying the dousing operations.

The inbuilt firefighting equipment of the building was also not working. However, the residents’ quick actions helped evacuate many people.