PM’s Gujarat Model failed to rein in unsafe buildings in Surat, death of 20 students

Even after repeated incidents of fire in the past six months at coaching centres in Surat and Ahmedabad, resulting in the death of over 20 youth, the Gujarat government failed to prevent coaching centres from being run in unsafe buildings.

People gave vent to their anger on Twitter with one user writing, “ This insensitive man isn’t going to Gujarat to console families of 23 children killed in #SuratFire. On the contrary all Gujarat authorities are busy with celebratory welcome preparations instead of sharing grief of victims’ families. Such inclusiveness!!! “

https://twitter.com/one_by_two/status/1132158791653494791

It was only after over 20 people, most of them students, died in fire in a coaching centre in Surat that the state government decided to start inspection of all tutorials, training centres and libraries to check if they had adequate fire-safety system in place.

The state government was forming teams, comprising officials from the fire services, town planning and revenue departments to inspect all these establishments.

Meanwhile, Vadodara Municipal Corporation issued notice to 152 coaching classes in the city to remain shut until they acquire NOC from the fire safety department.

Coaching centres have mushroomed in all major cities of Gujarat over the last one decade to meet the demands of students aspiring admission to various professional courses like engineering and medicine.