Congested staircases making buildings a death trap
The city’s low-rise apartments have become death traps as they have structural flaws that limit options to escape during a fire emergency. An investigation into many such incidents by senior officials of Delhi Fire Services has revealed that the structural design of low-rise apartments is such that the escape routes are blocked and people cannot exit in time. “The most glaring structural flaw that we observed was the staircase of the house leading to the ground floor getting engulfed in smoke and fire,” an officer said. Officials said that the ground floor is used as a parking lot and the staircase usually opens there. This acts as an impediment during an emergency. They added that the builders also install the electricity meter board in the same area, further blocking the exit.
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