Mysuru cracks down on unsafe bars after fire incident

Mysuru: Taking the recent fire accident at a restaurant near Dattagalli seriously, the Mysuru district administration on Friday ordered action against bars and restaurants operating on temporarily built second or third floors without fire safety measures.Deputy commissioner Lakshmikanth Reddy, at a meeting with excise, police, fire and emergency services officials, directed inspections of all bars and restaurants within and outside the city. He asked officials to submit a report within a week on properties lacking fire safety measures.“Bars and restaurants must mandatorily require multi-zone fire safety measures, have to set up automatic kitchen fire suppression systems, mention highly visible escape routes, train employees to avoid tragedies and loss of properties.

Bars and restaurants must ensure the safety of all guests,” he said.Flagging risks, the DC said many establishments use ornamental illumination and rooftop designs involving inflammable materials, and asked officials to list such properties.He directed the excise department to verify licences and identify bars and restaurants operating illegally. Raids must be conducted in establishments in city outskirts, outer ring roads and homestays, he said.

Reddy also instructed the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and civic bodies in the outskirts to carry out surprise inspections to check safety compliance.He said fire and emergency services officials are ready to provide one-day training to civic and excise staff on fire safety measures. Applications should be rejected and licences not renewed if establishments fail to comply, he added.City police commissioner Seema Latkar said police will coordinate with excise and MCC officials during raids.SP Mallikarjuna Baladandai, ZP CEO S Ukehskumar, and district fire and emergency services officer Gururaj were present.