Swagata Square in Guwahati Burns 33 Hours Straight; Fire Safety Lapses
Swagata Square in Guwahati Burns 33 Hours Straight; Fire Safety Lapses
Digital Desk: Over a hundred firefighters have been working nonstop to put out the disastrous fire at Swagata Square in Guwahati for more than 33 hours. The well-known Sohum Emporia and a number of State Bank of India branches were the first to catch fire late on Tuesday night. Thick smoke continued to flow out at six in the morning today, indicating that the flames were far from under control.
Fire fighters fought the fire all night long, but the odds were stacked against them. Although between 100 and 150 firefighters from several stations joined the operation, their work was practically impossible due to the building's design.
A major part of Swagata Square is inaccessible to rescue teams and hoses due to the lack of a suitable exit at the rear and the inability of fire vehicles to reach a portion of the building.
Crucially, firefighters were unable to access significant portions of the burning structure due to the lack of a designated fire escape and the neglect of maintaining clear emergency pathways.
An already challenging scenario became a protracted and hazardous struggle due to these safety and access breaches, which allowed the fire to spread uncontrolled.
