Odisha’s fire and emergency services found that 3,404 of 4,596 government and private buildings inspected across the state failed to meet prescribed fire safety standards, exposing widespread gaps in the protection of residents, patients, students and visitors.
The month-long inspection drive, conducted between September 15 and October 14, found that only 1,192 buildings were compliant with mandatory fire safety norms. The establishments inspected included hospitals, shopping malls, residential apartments, educational institutions, business units, mercantile buildings and places of public assembly.
The Odisha Fire and Emergency Services identified one or more deficiencies in nearly three out of every four buildings examined. The lapses included expired or invalid fire safety certificates, inadequate escape routes, non-functional fire detection and alarm systems, insufficient firefighting equipment and gaps in electrical safety.
Officials also found inadequate fire-protection infrastructure, restricted access for fire service vehicles and weak emergency preparedness measures. These shortcomings can affect both the ability of occupants to leave a building safely and the ability of emergency crews to reach and respond to a fire.
Director General of Odisha Fire and Emergency Services Sudhanshu Sarangi said the exercise was intended to improve compliance and preparedness rather than simply identify violations. “Our objective is not finding faults. The focus is on sensitising building owners and managers to urgently bridge the gaps identified during inspections,” he said.
Sarangi said the department had identified fire-risk premises, assessed their compliance with prescribed norms and advised owners and managers to strengthen prevention and emergency response mechanisms. Notices were issued to 3,404 establishments, directing them to undertake corrective measures.
Inspector General of Police Uma Shankar Dash said the drive was conducted under the banner of ‘Surakshit Odisha, Vikashit Odisha’. The campaign involved physical verification of fire and life-safety measures, awareness efforts among stakeholders, improved digital monitoring systems and statutory action where necessary, he said.
The findings also draw attention to fire-safety compliance in government healthcare facilities. In a written statement made in the Odisha assembly on September 28, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said that only 17 of 241 government healthcare institutions required to obtain fire safety certificates currently possessed valid certification.
The gap is particularly significant in buildings where occupants may be unable to evacuate independently or where large numbers of people gather at the same time. Hospitals, schools, apartment complexes and public assembly buildings require functioning alarms, clear escape routes, accessible fire-service approaches and operational firefighting systems for emergency response to work effectively.
The inspection figures indicate that the challenge extends beyond issuing certificates. Compliance also depends on whether installed systems remain functional, whether escape routes are kept clear, whether electrical risks are addressed and whether building managers and occupants understand emergency procedures.
Officials said follow-up inspections and awareness drives would continue across Odisha. The next phase will focus on ensuring that establishments address the deficiencies identified during the inspection campaign and strengthen preparedness against potential fire hazards.
