Mumbai civic body issues notice to iconic RK Studios for flouting fire safety norms

This means that no shooting will be allowed at the studio until it replies to the notice and gets the non-objection certificate (NoC) renewed.

More than 10 days after a fire engulfed iconic RK Studios in Chembur, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) fire brigade department on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to it for not complying with the fire safety rules.

RK Studios caught fire on September 16. (HT)

This means that no shooting will be allowed at the studio until it replies to the notice and gets the non-objection certificate (NoC) renewed.

The fire broke out in studio on September 16, gutting the set for a reality show. None was injured. The fire department granted a provisional NoC to the studio in 2014.

Studio representatives were required to send a checklist of fires safety measures to officials, which they failed to do so, said P Rahangdale, chief fire officer.

Had the studios sent the checklist, it would have been granted a permanent NoC. The fired department has now revoked the provisional certificate.

The notice was issued under Maharastra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act 2006. Studio representatives said they were not aware of it.

“RK studio did not follow procedure after a provisional fire NoC was granted to it in 2014, thus endangering the lives of everyone working there,” said Rahangdale. A new NoC would be granted once the studio met all norms, a fire official said.

The fire brigade’s investigation revealed that lack of sprinklers and fire detectors led to rapid spread of the fire. Large premises which use heavy electric gadgets are required to have courtyard fire hydrants, which were missing in the case, said the official.

Rahangdale said, “When a building uses heavy electric equipment, such as studio lights used for shooting in this case, it needs to upgrade its fire safety system. However, RK Studios has not followed up since 2014.”

Actor Rishi Kapoor told HT, “I cannot comment as I don’t have information regarding this (the notice).”

Kishore Darekar, a spokesperson for the studio said, “We will check and reply accordingly.”