Puri: In the wake of the devastating nightclub fire in Goa that claimed 25 lives, the Puri district administration has intensified its scrutiny of hotels and lodges to ensure tourist safety.
Shockingly, around 60% of accommodation facilities in the pilgrim town reportedly lack mandatory fire safety certificates.
Acting on the alarming gaps, the administration has issued notices to 33 hotels that continue to operate without the required fire safety clearance. They have been given a one-month deadline to comply with all norms or face stringent action.
Authorities had made fire safety certification compulsory for all hotels and lodges starting January 2025. At the beginning of the year, 97 establishments were found non-compliant. Despite repeated reminders across 11 months, 33 hotels still remain without certificates. Many others have installed basic fire-fighting systems but fall short of the standards needed for official approval.
What has emerged as a bigger concern is that hundreds of hotels and lodges are reportedly accommodating tourists without any administrative approval. Officials say that while records list 1,200 hotels and lodges in Puri, the actual number is believed to be closer to 1,500—pointing to a large number of unregistered establishments.
A senior official admitted that not a single lodge in Puri currently has a fully compliant fire-extinguishing system, raising serious questions about preparedness in the event of an emergency.
Puri District Collector Divyajyoti Parida reiterated the administration’s stand, stating, “Fire safety certificate is mandatory for all hotels and lodges. If they fail to obtain it, strict action will be taken against them.”
With Puri being the most visited destination in Odisha—attracting devotees not just from across the state but also from West Bengal and several neighbouring states—the lack of proper fire safety mechanisms in a major tourism hub has become a pressing concern.
