Background.
The 'Sweet Meat Street' or 'Mithaai Theruvu' in Kozhikode has all the ingredients that can cause a disaster! The street has acquired its name from the good old days when the Zamorin of Kozhikode had invited Gujarati sweet meat makers to trade in the city. Today it sells anything and everything including the famous sweets (Especially, the Kozhikodan halwa that are predominantly of orange and brown hues) and banana chips. It continues to be the busiest street in Kozhikode.
The disaster.
According to eye witnesses, fire was first sighted at Naseeruddin's 'Beauty Stores' which then quickly spread into the wholesaler 'Brothers Stores' atop it, that distributed hosiery items, at around 2145 hrs last evening. The fire raged on to gut down about seven shops resulting in a loss estimated in crores before being brought under control by the hapless fire force - more about that later! It took 16 hours to douse the fire.
History of disasters.
The street has had a string of disasters in the past viz.:-
(a) 17 Feb 1995 18 shops were gutted down by fire.
(b) 05 Apr 2007 Fire at MP Road at Sweet Meat street that claimed 8 lives.
(c) 09 Dec 2010 8 shops gutted down by fire and now,
(d) 13 May 2015 7 shops gutted down by fire.
The factors that make it prone to disasters.
What causes the disasters? Why do they happen time and again? Why aren't concrete steps taken to remove potential disasters in future?
The answers are not hard to find but first, the causes:-
* The street consists of about 600 shops crammed into over a century-old buildings of
unscientific design and infrastructure.
* Outdated electrical wiring in almost all shops perennially prone to short circuits.
* Wrong practices of stowing tons of stock ranging from textile, stationery, leather goods and
other fancy items, often close to fire prone areas.
* The shops are so old that they've tiled-roof structures with crumbling wooden ceilings,
and staircases susceptible to fire.
* Even a minor fire can flare up into a major catastrophe because of its narrow, inaccessible
lanes and a pathetically outfitted local fire and rescue unit.
Having said the above, it's not difficult to understand as to why the disasters take place time and again, without let up!
Resistance from local merchants supported by politicians pose a major hurdle in:-
* Improving safety standards in the market streets.
* Scientifically redesigning the market area.
The same old problem of corruption and resistance to change! Will we ever learn?
Tailpiece.
A few steps in the right direction have been taken, post tragedy, which are:-
(a) The Sweet Meat Street heritage project, conceived in 2005, has been given the cabinet nod
which entails the following:-
(i) Improve infrastructure while preserving the heritage of the street.
(ii) Transparent roofing.
(iii) Walkways.
(iv) Cast iron frames and granite pillars for shops.
(v) Decorative lighting, rewiring and renovation of the shops with the traders' support.
(b) The tourism department has appointed the 'State Nirmithi Kendra' as the implementing
agency for the project @ Rs.5 crores.
It's my fond hope that it doesn't turn out to be a case of another 'never ending' project of the government!
The 'Sweet Meat Street' or 'Mithaai Theruvu' in Kozhikode has all the ingredients that can cause a disaster! The street has acquired its name from the good old days when the Zamorin of Kozhikode had invited Gujarati sweet meat makers to trade in the city. Today it sells anything and everything including the famous sweets (Especially, the Kozhikodan halwa that are predominantly of orange and brown hues) and banana chips. It continues to be the busiest street in Kozhikode.
The disaster.
According to eye witnesses, fire was first sighted at Naseeruddin's 'Beauty Stores' which then quickly spread into the wholesaler 'Brothers Stores' atop it, that distributed hosiery items, at around 2145 hrs last evening. The fire raged on to gut down about seven shops resulting in a loss estimated in crores before being brought under control by the hapless fire force - more about that later! It took 16 hours to douse the fire.
History of disasters.
The street has had a string of disasters in the past viz.:-
(a) 17 Feb 1995 18 shops were gutted down by fire.
(b) 05 Apr 2007 Fire at MP Road at Sweet Meat street that claimed 8 lives.
(c) 09 Dec 2010 8 shops gutted down by fire and now,
(d) 13 May 2015 7 shops gutted down by fire.
The factors that make it prone to disasters.
What causes the disasters? Why do they happen time and again? Why aren't concrete steps taken to remove potential disasters in future?
The answers are not hard to find but first, the causes:-
* The street consists of about 600 shops crammed into over a century-old buildings of
unscientific design and infrastructure.
* Outdated electrical wiring in almost all shops perennially prone to short circuits.
* Wrong practices of stowing tons of stock ranging from textile, stationery, leather goods and
other fancy items, often close to fire prone areas.
* The shops are so old that they've tiled-roof structures with crumbling wooden ceilings,
and staircases susceptible to fire.
* Even a minor fire can flare up into a major catastrophe because of its narrow, inaccessible
lanes and a pathetically outfitted local fire and rescue unit.
Having said the above, it's not difficult to understand as to why the disasters take place time and again, without let up!
Resistance from local merchants supported by politicians pose a major hurdle in:-
* Improving safety standards in the market streets.
* Scientifically redesigning the market area.
The same old problem of corruption and resistance to change! Will we ever learn?
Tailpiece.
A few steps in the right direction have been taken, post tragedy, which are:-
(a) The Sweet Meat Street heritage project, conceived in 2005, has been given the cabinet nod
which entails the following:-
(i) Improve infrastructure while preserving the heritage of the street.
(ii) Transparent roofing.
(iii) Walkways.
(iv) Cast iron frames and granite pillars for shops.
(v) Decorative lighting, rewiring and renovation of the shops with the traders' support.
(b) The tourism department has appointed the 'State Nirmithi Kendra' as the implementing
agency for the project @ Rs.5 crores.
It's my fond hope that it doesn't turn out to be a case of another 'never ending' project of the government!
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