Disaster Management in Kolkata- Are We Ready

On 23rd march 2010, a fierce fire broke out at a multi storied building named Stephen Court in Kolkata. 43 invaluable lives are lost. The role of concerned disaster management organizations have been severely criticized. The over all pandemonium has raised a lot of questions: Are we really ready for any such disasters!
No, unfortunately we are not! Otherwise many of those agonizing deaths could have been stopped.

What are the loopholes that need to be repaired?
[This article is not about to criticize the lack of awareness and efficiency of concerned authorities, but to highlight the infrastructural problems of our beloved city]

* Kolkata is a very old city. Its area has been increased without any proper planning. Many of its high rise buildings are also very old and not properly maintained.

* Lack of space- Total road area of Kolkata is only 6% whereas in case of Delhi, it is around 25%. Due to lack of roads and vacant spaces, its very difficult to move quickly in case of emergency.

* Lack of water source: The only sufficient water source is the river Ganges which is flowing on the western side of the city. At the heart of the city, source of water is scanty and sporadic.

* Lack of modern equipments- In case of fire in a multistoried building, equipments like jumping cushion or emergency escape chute are urgently needed and life saving. In high rise building of Delhi or Mumbai, 'Emergengy Escape Chute' are kept which is not the scenarioin Kolkata.

Hope the authorities will look after the shortcomings to make the city a safer place!