Bengaluru: A fire broke out late last night on a skywalk near the iconic ISKCON Temple in Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, triggering concerns over public safety and the use of advertising banners on civic infrastructure.
According to preliminary information, the fire originated from an advertisement flex banner installed on the skywalk. While the exact cause is yet to be officially confirmed, officials suspect a short circuit from lighting fixtures attached to the banner may have triggered the blaze.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel rushed to the spot immediately and successfully doused the fire before it could spread further. No injuries or casualties were reported, officials confirmed. However, the incident led to temporary traffic congestion in the busy stretch near the temple.
Visuals from the site show the banner completely charred, raising fresh questions about the safety of flex advertisements mounted on public structures, especially in high-footfall areas.
The incident has also revived the debate around outdoor advertising regulations in Bengaluru. It may be recalled that the Karnataka High Court had imposed restrictions on flex banners several years ago. Recently, the state government notified new advertising rules, sparking concerns that unchecked installation of commercial banners could return as a major civic menace.
Civic authorities are now expected to examine whether the banner was installed with proper permissions and whether safety norms were followed. Officials indicated that a detailed inquiry would ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
Experts warn that unless strict enforcement of advertising and electrical safety norms is ensured, such incidents could recur, posing serious risks to pedestrians and commuters.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and the civic body will now be under pressure to review compliance mechanisms and ensure public safety is not compromised in the name of commercial advertising.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: ಇಸ್ಕಾನ್ ಸಮೀಪ ಸ್ಕೈವಾಕ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಂಕಿ ಅವಘಡ: ಫ್ಲೆಕ್ಸ್ ಬ್ಯಾನರ್ನಿಂದಲೇ ಅಗ್ನಿ?
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