Launch fire tragedy: Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to fight a fire
My philosophy, after any tragic fire incident, is to forget it, and rather concentrate on similar conditions that pose threats in the future. Because the fact of the matter is, many potential killing machines are waiting in our waters.
Tazreen happened in 2012. Almost a decade has passed since 117 workers died, because they could not escape the deadly fire that broke out in that factory building. Factories with restricted escape routes exist to this day.
Hazardous buildings with pathetic structures, made of inferior materials, have not disappeared after the fall of Rana Plaza in 2013. The death of over a thousand people could not teach us a lesson.
After the Nimtoli explosion in 2010, in which 124 people died, old city dwellers were certain that lightning never strikes in one place twice. True to the myth, Churihatta blew up in 2019, claiming 71 fatalities.
MV Abhijan-10 is not the only riverine vessel that had unprotected steel, flammable paint, highly combustible materials, engine emitting unusual noises and smoke, and exploding gas cylinders. It's not the only vessel without detectors for fire, smoke and internal engine explosions, and an alarm system. Will it be the last steel skeleton to remain afloat with the cabins burnt to ashes?
The only glimpse of positivity after the tragic death of 42 people last Friday is the dawning of how terrifying a fire on a water vessel can be, and how helpless we all are. The saddest part is that although smoke and fire were observed early, the untrained and ignorant crew did not know any better to prevent the ultimate escalation. Is there a different brand of crew on other river crafts?
The ship did not have a shred of means to fight the growing heat and fire, nor did it have enough life-jackets and boats to evacuate the mortified people. The "sarengs" (masters and drivers) did not have the presence of mind to veer the ship to the riverbank. They could have saved countless lives had they yielded to the pleas of the helpless passengers. This was due to the launch not having a dedicated team to take over during such emergencies. Does any other launch have them?
Unbelievably, the launch travelled for an hour while on fire. Panic overtook common sense. The crew lacked emergency training and were not advised well by the onshore management, who must have been
contacted as the catastrophe unfolded. Principally, a launch is no different from buildings in terms of fire incidents, but because of its remoteness from land, it requires unique preventive, precautionary and control measures. How unique is the next launch?
The ship in limelight caught fire due to defective maintenance of the engine room. Perhaps oil spills and electrical faults were neglected. Overheating engines and components were overlooked. Spontaneous combustion and growing plumes of smoke were ignored. Qualified supervision staff were not on board. Have the authorities drawn up plans to ensure otherwise?
Extinguishers against all fire types, hose reels, hydrants, water pumps, emergency fire pumps, foam suppression systems, sprinklers, breathing apparatus and even "water" to fight fire are words that came to question after the fire was doused. Will it be any different the next time around?
No one has awakened to the impending peril. Hundreds of launches like Abhijan-10 are still plying; many are much worse. But negligence persists among hundreds of launch owners, thousands of operators and millions of travellers.
It is absolutely necessary to focus on the launches that remain potential fire hazards due to the lethal attitude of responsible government agencies and greedy owners. Illiterate workers and paying passengers are the future victims and the subject of more inquiries.