MANMADE DISASTER AND ITS MANAGEMENT ……..
In a crowded and overly populated city of Mumbai disasters are no more circumstantial but they are very much apparent. Here manmade disasters have outnumbered natural disasters. A disaster could be anything from bus rampaging into public area, hoarding crashing, protesting marches, structural failures, car pileup or urban fires. All these may look accidental in nature but all are very well fabricated and construed over period of time. There is nothing instinctive left about the disasters. Potential hazards are stowed in such a way so as to eventually sum up to an untimely disaster.
Generally when a probability of risk factor fails it concludes in a calamity. They often end up coughing up lives, leaving an emotional distress thus putting other lives at risk and derailing the normal routine of people. Especially when a disaster is in the form of a building that has collapsed or in a fire breakout the scorch marks are borne by its neighborhood.
When a building collapses, it could be either due to poor construction quality or ageing or being a dilapidated one. And when a fire breaks it could be largely due to electric overloading, overly done interior works or makeshift temporary connections.
All this can be averted early with a little bit of preparedness, educating the public on risks, taking preventive measures and management at done at grass root level. Mitigation strategies of safety are needed to be followed to prevent the occurrence and impact of any mishap.
Primarily the callous and casual perspective of people needs to be reformed. If everyone accepts the wrong doings nothing right is to be expected. Therefore all laws pertaining to permissions and regularities must be abided. Next is a customary structural and electrical audit by a licensed structural and electrical engineer is to be resolved periodically. This would give a fair idea of deterioration of rcc and electrical wires or overloading on the structure if any. Fire appliances that are installed within the premises have to be checked routinely for its working conditions. Lessons for operating such appliances should be delivered to all members so as to act upon in times of emergency. Area earmarked as refuge should strictly adhere to the cause.
Buildings that are reveling severe cracks or termed as dilapidated should be vacated immediately. Any changes under the pretext of interior works ought to be scrutinized by a licensed Architect. No deviation from existing beams and columns to be altered after the occupation certificate.
Open spaces within the premises should be kept free of parking to administer better maneuverability in that crisis hour. The fire tanks must be full of water at all times to unable the fire brigade agency to use in full capacity. Strict and Rigorous action need to be taken against wrongdoers.
Keep fire brigade, rescue operation and response team contacts at hand.
Just as we keenly supervise security services and aesthetics of our structures, let safety of the premise ought to be of prime importance.
Within your homes, office spaces, shops etc, safety measures must be maintained and easily accessible. All fire protective elements need to be handy and present at all times. Much of the hazards will be evaded or could be handled deftly and much of damage to life and property can be thwarted.
Onus of safety is abiding on each and every one of us. So let us position safety first and emphasize on effective safety plans and long term care. Let us unite together to not be a victim of negligence and human error but create a safer and stronger world.
Let us appreciate the life we have been given and let us live a life of not the ordinary.
Ar. Rashmi Phulkar (Practicing Architect, Vile Parle EAST)