AGARTALA, September 15 (TIWN): Tripura Fire Service Department on Tuesday conducted a fire safety mock drill at the various malls of the capital. The mock drill programme started at around 9 am in the morning. The operation has been observed at the ML Plaza shopping malls, Aitorma building owner and the Bazaar Kolkata. During the operation, District Magistrate (West) Milindh Ramteke, Director of Fire Service Nepal Das along with the AMC Task force and the other officials of the fire service visited the spot.One hydraulic fire tender and a mini-van of the fire brigade reached the mall to conduct a staged fire-rescue operation. However, there was no panic and people easily evacuated the mall. As it was the morning time, there were not many people present in the mall at that time, except the employees of the showroom.During the mock drill programme initiated in the shopping malls, the building was evacuated and the fire fighters organised the drills. They piped water inside the malls and examining the fire safety.The series of drill has been conducted to know about the shortcomings in case any emergency occurs here. Although the drill was planned at the malls but the fire fighters has initiated the rescue work just like they are rescuing during the real emergency situation. Since the operation started in the morning hours, the footfall at the mall was manageable for conducting the drill in a proper manner. People were told about the drill while the others at the mall had also performed a rehearsal prior to the staged rescue operation.During the operation conducted at the Aitorma building, Milindh Ramteke said that every mall should have road all around it. Enhancing the issue he said that road which is present on the side of the Aitorma building is dumped with mud and other materials which need to clear soon, so that this road can be used during the Fire emergency in the mall.Further, after the operation accomplished at the ML Plaza, he stressed on to remove all the stalls installed in front of the shopping mall.

 He also said that the space which has been kept for the Fire emergency is not enough. Above all, due to the stairways present in front of the gate, creating obstacles for the fire tenders to enter, added.

Besides, he also asked to remove the huge bundle of Electric wires from the front gate of the ML Plaza shopping malls. If any mishap occurs in the shopping malls than fire fighters will not be able to take any fruitful step.

Besides, it is to be mentioned here that the HC on July 1 found that the shopping malls built here in city has no car parking facility, lack of ramp, fire protection facilities, lack of emergency exit doors inside the malls and other basic facilities which needs to be provided to the customers.