Date:25/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082520000200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Focus on fire safety

The city woke up to images of burning coaches this week and Sunday's fire accident on the Chennai-Hyderabad Express near Secunderabad station still remains a mystery.

But it raised several questions on the fire safety measures being implemented in coaches and railway stations. The Fire Department personnel faced many problems to reach the spot as there was not enough open space to control the fire, but a municipal playground adjacent to the Gandhi Hospital mortuary paved the way for fire tenders to douse the flames only after half-an-hour.

What could have happened if there was no playground? Lucky, that there were no casualties.

M. Srinivas