BHUBANESWAR: In wake of the recent fire accidents in the country, the latest being the fatal blaze at a coaching centre in Lucknow which claimed 15 lives, the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has ordered immediate and rigorous fire safety audits across all educational institutions, coaching centres and skill development hubs in the state.
As the new academic session has already commenced, special relief commissioner and managing director of OSDMA Rajesh Prabhakar Patil instructed all district collectors and chairpersons of District Disaster Management Authorities to conduct field inspections and ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Odisha Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Rules, 2017, Odisha Fire Prevention and Fire Safety (Amendment) Rules, 2025 and other applicable safety regulations.
He directed the district administrations to launch immediate, widespread inspection in all campuses, paying specific attention to high-risk multi-storey complexes and congested urban spaces. This apart, joint inspection teams will check the validity of existing fire safety certificates and no-objection certificates (NOCs) to guarantee adherence to prescribed safety standards.
Strict ban has been enforced on storage of combustible materials in classrooms, corridors, or escape paths, and stress laid on mandatory periodic maintenance of electrical installations to eliminate short-circuit hazards. Official teams will confirm functionality of critical equipment such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, automated alarms and emergency lighting systems, Patil emphasised.
The inspection teams were also asked to ensure that every institution introduces sufficient safe exits, display distinct exit signages and conduct regular hands-on fire extinguisher training and mock drills for students.
Stating that physical escape routes are the first line of defense during an emergency, Patil asked local authorities to ensure that all primary exits, staircases, corridors and emergency escape routes remain entirely unobstructed and undisturbed at all times.
“Institutions are required to clearly install adequate signages pointing toward exits, designated open assembly points and emergency contact numbers,” he added. Stress was laid on ensuring that every educational establishment prepares and prominently displays an institution-specific emergency response and evacuation plan. District teams were asked to give top priority to institutions operating from rented buildings, dense commercial complexes, basements and any facilities exhibiting high student occupancy levels.
Patil further directed that student accommodations, including hostels and residential training centres, also maintain specified fire safety norms.
Senior officials from the Revenue, Fire services, Higher Education and Skill development departments, along with local authorities will conduct joint inspections at the district level, for the purpose.
Any institution found operating without adequate, functional fire safety arrangements will face immediate regulatory action and be directed to implement definitive corrective measures within a strictly stipulated timeframe.
The OSDMA has asked all district administrations to monitor the implementation of the above measures closely, and sought consolidated Action Taken report (ATR) from the district collectors indicating the number of institutions inspected, deficiencies identified and corrective actions initiated, within 15 days.
KEY DIRECTIVES
District administrations to inspect institutions, specially high-risk multi-storey complexes and congested urban spaces
Joint inspection teams to check validity of existing fire safety certificates and no objection certificates
Ban enforced on storage of combustible materials in classrooms, corridors and escape paths
Critical equipment like fire extinguishers, smoke detectors to be maintained
Every institution must conduct hands-on fire extinguisher training, mock drills for students
