Patna: Following a major fire at an oil factory in Didarganj, the Bihar Fire Services has launched a district-wide inspection drive of industrial safety systems, deploying 27 special teams to audit factories, warehouses and other high-risk establishments across Patna.
The move comes amid concerns over repeated industrial fire incidents and gaps in compliance with safety norms in key industrial clusters.
Fire Safety Drive Begins Across Patna
District Fire Officer Ritesh Pandey said the special audit campaign will be conducted in a phased manner, with immediate focus on units dealing with highly flammable materials such as chemicals, edible oils, plastics, paints and packaging products.
Officials said that establishments found violating safety norms will first receive notices directing corrective measures. Failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe may lead to cancellation of Fire No Objection Certificates (NOC), sealing of premises, and legal action against owners.
The department has stated that negligence towards fire safety standards will be dealt with strictly.
High-Risk Industrial Clusters Identified
According to preliminary estimates, Patna district has between 700 and 1,000 industrial units and warehouses operating across multiple sectors, including edible oil, pharmaceuticals, engineering, steel, chemicals and logistics.
Officials identify around 150 to 200 units as high-risk due to the nature of stored materials and production processes.
The Didarganj–Fatuha belt has been marked as particularly sensitive, along with industrial clusters in Patna City, Gulzarbagh, Sampatchak, Beur, the Bypass area and Bihta industrial zone.
Authorities note that over 70 per cent of industrial units are concentrated in eastern Patna and the Bihta corridor, where narrow access roads and dense habitation often complicate emergency response.
Repeat Fire Incidents Raise Concern
The latest initiative follows multiple industrial fire incidents in the district over the past 18 months.
On March 31, 2025, a major fire at a chemical factory in Gulabbagh, Barh, led to repeated explosions of chemical drums and required extensive firefighting operations involving multiple tenders.
Earlier incidents include fires at a foam factory in Fatuha on September 5, 2025, and a plastic warehouse in Karmalichak on January 18, 2026, both linked to suspected electrical short circuits and causing significant material losses.
Inspection Parameters Outlined
Fire officials said the audit will assess compliance across key safety parameters, including validity of Fire NOCs, operational fire extinguishers, hydrant and sprinkler systems, alarm functionality, and availability of emergency exits.
Teams will also inspect electrical wiring, storage practices for flammable materials, evacuation preparedness, staff training, and accessibility for fire brigade vehicles.
Focus on Enforcement and Compliance
The Fire Department has previously issued notices to over 100 establishments, including hotels, coaching centres and hospitals, for safety violations.
Officials said similar enforcement measures are now being extended to industrial units, with 110 hotels already inspected under earlier drives.
Authorities have stressed that the objective of the current campaign is to strengthen preventive safety systems and reduce the risk of large-scale industrial fire incidents in Patna.
