GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3859
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11TH AUGUST, 2026/ SHRAVANA 20, 1948 (SAKA)
NDRF GUIDELINES FOR FIRE ACCIDENTS
3859. SHRI ESWARASAMY K:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details and the number of major fire accidents reported in
commercial and residential high-rise buildings during the last five...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3859 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11TH AUGUST, 2026/ SHRAVANA 20, 1948 (SAKA) NDRF GUIDELINES FOR FIRE ACCIDENTS
3859. SHRI ESWARASAMY K:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details and the number of major fire accidents reported in commercial and residential high-rise buildings during the last five years, number of fatalities and injuries reported in each case along with the State- wise and year-wise;
(b) whether the National Disaster Management Authority has issued or updated any guidelines, advisories or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent and reduce fire accidents in high-rise buildings and the status of their implementation by the States and Union Territories, if so, the details thereof during the such period; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to equip the National Disaster Response Force with drones and other advanced technologies for fire assessment, search and rescue and real-time situational awareness to reduce response time and if so, the details thereof, including the timeline for implementation and if not, the reasons therefor?-2- L.S.US.Q.NO. 3859 FOR 11.08.2026 ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) : As per Article 243(W) of the Twelfth Schedule to the Constitution of India, fire service is a municipal subject under the State Governments.
Collection, compilation and maintenance of data relating to fire incidents, including occupancy-wise, building-wise and State-wise statistics on fire accidents, fatalities and injuries are primarily the responsibility of the respective State Governments. Central Government, through the Directorate General (Fire Service, Civil Defence & Home Guards), Ministry of Home Affairs plays an advisory and support role in the fire safety and service related matters.
(b) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued “Guidelines on Scaling, Type of Equipment and Training of Fire Services” in 2012, specifying the necessary measures to prevent and reduce fire accidents in high-rise buildings. These guidelines were shared with States/UTs for necessary actions at their end.
(c) Fire services being a state subject, National Disaster Response Force
(NDRF) is not mandated to primarily deal with the fire accidents, and state fire service personnel are responsible to deal with the fire accidents.
However, NDRF provides need based assistance to States Governments and Municipal authorities. *****