“The fires of tomorrow will be more intense and unpredictable than those of the past,” warned RA Venkitachalam, a trustee at Beyond Carlton. “Synthetic materials, lithium-ion batteries, and modern innovations are increasing the intensity and toxicity of fires. To tackle these evolving risks, we need stronger research, better data collection, and adoption of global best practices.”
Marking the 15th anniversary of the Carlton Towers fire tragedy, Beyond Carlton—a citizen-led fire safety collective—has released a first-of-its-kind report, Fire Safety in India. Based on 15 years of data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and on-ground experiences, the report provides a critical analysis of fire safety trends, challenges, and necessary reforms.
Beyond Carlton was formed in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 Carlton Towers fire in Bengaluru, which claimed nine lives and left several injured. The incident exposed glaring lapses in fire prevention, building compliance, and emergency response. Since then, the organisation has been at the forefront of advocating for better fire safety policies, increasing public awareness, and ensuring accountability from authorities.
The report released on February 20, highlights key findings that shed light on the evolving fire safety landscape in India. Fire-related deaths have dropped significantly from 18,000 to 7,000 annually, yet the number of fire incidents has increased.
Women constitute 65% of fire-related fatalities, a stark contrast to their 17% share in overall accidental deaths, highlighting the need for targeted safety measures.
The report also identifies the leading causes of fire accidents in India, which stem from human negligence, infrastructural deficiencies, weak enforcement of safety norms, and climatic factors. Electrical short circuits, gas cylinder leaks, industrial mishaps, and fires in residential slums remain the most common causes of fire-related fatalities.
Electrical short circuits are a major contributor, often due to overloaded circuits, faulty wiring, and poor-quality electrical installations. High-rise apartments, commercial buildings, hospitals, and factories are particularly vulnerable.
Gas cylinders and LPG leaks pose another significant risk, particularly in urban slums, hotels, restaurants, and industrial gas storage facilities. Industrial and chemical fires continue to be deadly due to unsafe storage of flammable materials, lack of fire suppression systems, and inadequate worker training. Residential and slum fires are exacerbated by open flames, flammable building materials, and poor accessibility for fire departments.
Fireworks and festive fires remain a seasonal hazard, with poor regulation and unsafe storage contributing to major incidents.
Hospital and healthcare facility fires are particularly dangerous due to electrical faults, oxygen cylinder explosions, and inadequate evacuation plans. Between 2020 and 2025, fires in hospitals across Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi have caused over 125 deaths.
Market and commercial fires also pose a persistent risk, with illegal electrical connections, blocked emergency exits, and a lack of firefighting equipment exacerbating the problem.
Another concerning revelation is that nearly 45% of fire incidents fall under the category of “others,” pointing to gaps in data collection and classification. “We need better documentation of fire incidents, especially with the rise of modern risks such as electric vehicle (EV) fires,” said Gopal Devanahalli, a trustee at Beyond Carlton.
Beyond Carlton's Managing Trustee and President, Uday Vijayan stressed the importance of sustained efforts to address fire safety challenges. “The same mistakes keep repeating—blocked fire exits, lack of preparedness, and poor enforcement of safety norms. A collective effort is needed to prevent future tragedies,” he said.
Beyond Carlton has been instrumental in driving fire safety reforms. The organisation has partnered with state governments in Karnataka and Odisha and conducted training programmes for ‘escape managers’ in residential complexes to improve emergency preparedness, he said.
Beyond Carlton will hold the memorial this year on February 22 at St. Joseph’s High School, featuring performances and conversations around fire safety.