Ahmedabad: After the devastating blaze in Rajkot’s TRP Gaming Zone last year that killed 27, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is leaving no stone unturned to ensure safety at the Coldplay concert at Narendra Modi Stadium on Jan 25-26. Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) has handed organisers of the concert, which is known for its large crowds and jaw-dropping pyrotechnics, a comprehensive safety checklist.
“With 1.5 lakh fans expected, ensuring their safety is paramount,” said a senior AFES official. “The checklist outlines stringent requirements to mitigate potential fire hazards,” the official added. The checklist mandates a robust risk assessment framework that identifies, evaluates and controls potential risks. “The checklist includes analysing hazards like overcrowding, electrical systems, pyrotechnics, flammable materials, cooking areas, smoking, temporary structures, and vehicle hazards,” the official said.
AFES has demanded that organisers deploy 60 trained fire marshalls at the venue and submit a fire safety audit report. It has stressed the importance of meticulous occupancy load management, which involves calculating the maximum safe occupancy for the stadium and determining the number and capacity of all exit routes. The checklist also details steps to calculate the occupant load based on floor area and specific occupancy factors. “Other than that, our checklist dictates the minimum exit width, the required number of exits based on occupancy, and maximum travel distances to exits,” the official told TOI.
According to the checklist, all emergency exits and evacuation routes must be clear, unobstructed, well-defined, and marked with clear signage. It demands a sufficient number of ABC-type fire extinguishers, fully operational fire hydrants, smoke and heat detection systems, and a robust public address system for communication in case of an emergency. “We have asked for a clear plan. A team has been designated to perform inspections,” the official said.
The checklist also emphasises the necessity of a dedicated Fire Command Centre with advanced equipment for monitoring and control. This includes video surveillance, communication systems, crowd density analysis tools using AI, large display panels and backup systems for power and data resilience.