Security guards block entry into Raheja Atlantis for press and guests.
Click on video above to see the Raheja Atlantis’ E Tower after the fire.
Fire in an apartment in E block of Raheja Atlantis (built & maintained by Raheja Developers – a builder based out Saket, Delhi) grew into a major conflagration that reached out from the fourth floor all the way till the 8th floor apartment, due to apparent failure of fire fighting system, security protocols, and empty fire hoses in the multi-storey complex just off NH8.
It took almost 1.5 hours to put out the fire, and all the time the residents faced harrowing moments. There was no fire alarm system functioning. Sprinklers installed in the apartment might have also not been working. Further in the hose pipes there was no water to put out the fire. A resident on one of the floors below the apartment which caught fire, injured his hand while breaking the glass of the “fire alarm box”, but no fire alarms rang to warm the residents of this major fire. Also, there was no PA (Public Announcement) system on the Raheja premises to warm the residents to evacuate ….
Residents reported getting engulfed in the lift balcony where the fire fighting hose is, stumbling on the way in the smoke and darkness as there was no natural light, and then finally ending up with empty hoses – there was no water to put out the fire. The delay in putting out the fire resulted in a major conflagration that can be seen in the images and video.
Visibly agitated residents were gathered in large numbers at the Atlantis Gate confronting a phalanx of Security Guards. The security guards had imposed a clampdown and prevented entry of the guests and press to the Raheja premises which was being protested by the residents. Your’s truly had to climb on top of a neighbor’s house to be able to get footage of the damaged building.
A calamity was narrowly averted, but the residents are fearful and angry. In the coming days they hope to get a full accounting of the same from the builder, and devise steps that prevent further occurences of such systemic breakdown in a multi-storey residential complex.
This is a developing story and we would like the citizens who know about this to help develop and correct the facts in the story.
What happens when members discuss issues on Gurgaon’s Top Community Portal – GurgaonScoop.com?? Things move !!
Thanks to one of our readers for bringing to our attention that the comments posted by a member of GurgaonScoop.com & of RahejaAtlantis.Qubrex.Org had made it to the cover story in Businessworld. The story was “Rise & Fall of Realty” and can be found here “Businessworld.in – Rise & Fall of Realty” (Quote on page 3)
The original articles posted by GurgaonScoop.com member are here
The posting by Mr. Garg was cited under the context that “Regulation (is) Needed”
The real estate sector is amongst the largest revenue generators …. yet, it is the most unregulated sector as far as the customer is concerned. Funds raised for a particular project are diverted to complete other projects or square a maturing loan. Delivery schedules are seldom met and there is no way errant builders can be penalized.
Here is the cover of the magazine Businessworld in which the comments appeared ..
I would like to connect with fellow property owners in Raheja atlantis project who are suffering with the delay in posession of this project. Posession is over 2 years delayed, and still there is no end in sight.
Cost of funding has gone up tremendously since 2004-5 when we purchased this apartment. we have paid up 95% of the purchase price long time back. Even if builder agrees to pay Rs. 5 psf per month penalty then that would amount to only 2.8% annual interest on the capital deployed. In essence Mr. Raheja has enjoyed this loan from us at a meagre 2.8% while we are paying 12% interest on loan.
Organisations like DLF have realized this and have increase penalty to Rs. 10/sqft. We should demand the same from Mr. Raheja, and also get a firm date about the handing over of our towers. Currently it seems that there is almost no work going on in the towers.
