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[Nitin Sidhu]

Its a sad day when a showcase event, organised by the Government, showcasing the country, ends in this. And probably tended to by top vendors. Miraculously, zero casualties.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/make-in-india-stage-catches-fire-in-mumbai-rescue-operation-underway-1203111.html

They say that all procedures and safety audits were implemented. As someone, who tours and is fortunate enough to often work on such events, I would be very skeptical of the honesty of the claim. Even if papers were signed.
We simply don't learn, and after so many incidents (last week a truss collapsed in a college in Delhi, mid show, again no one was injured).

Fortunately, thanks to you ppl. I now have RCBO's installed across my power distros. But i am small small shop. And at least 3 companies that I know of in this country are trussing to international safety standards. And a few rental companies now do insist on proper grounding.

The bigger problem is, even if legislation comes in specifying safety standards for events (with Electricity there is, so im sure is there with other temp structures also, we are good at making laws), implementation and education, for even the inspectors, is a far out thought.

what to do...

[Mark McFarlane]

The disaster management plan worked smoothly around the five exit points. First, the chief minister and his family were evacuated, followed by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. They left from the exit near the Nana Nani park. Other ministers and foreign dignitaries seated behind them were also evacuated from the same exit. Another exit, the one opening near the Chowpatty traffic signal, was used to evacuate Bollywood actors and dignitaries seated behind them. About 200 to 300 dignitaries were escorted out from here. Three other exits on the main road were used to evacuate the public. One entrance was used to allow men to leave, another for women and children and third for families.

Luckily, no one appears to have died, as they did in this event:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Mecca_girls%27_school_fire when the young school girls were not allowed to leave a burning building because they weren't properly covered. They all died.

I played on stage (representing Ireland) when Qatar did their bid for the Olympics about a decade ago. There were in-wall rated electrical service wires running all over the grass, spliced together with electrical tape, and the stairs leading to the main bleacher seating, going up from the ground to the back of the bleachers, 3 stories high, were 1M wide and didn't have any handrails.  Qatar didn't win the bid.  I wonder if they ever figured out why.  Clueless to safety.

I certainly understand the issues around training the inspectors. Where I live I suspect that as random new immigrants get off the plane there is a local guy there pointing to people saying "your going to be an electrician, your a plumber, your a truck driver,..."  That's the only job placement mechanism I can imagine that matches the skills I have observed.  The whole 'mentor/apprentice' thing doesn't work because the experienced guys are also clueless.Nitin, I feel for India.  I suspect the response to this fire will be exactly the opposite of what the whole event was trying to achieve: raise global awareness of India's manufacturing prowess.  It's a huge loss.

[John Fruits]

Although an "electrical short" was given as the cause, there was pyro in use downstage near where the fire started.
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/fire-breaks-out-on-stage-at-make-in-india-week-event-in-mumbai-1277324
Also Jimonlight.com has other videos which show the flames reaching the overhead truss and moving lights and a line array on fire.
http://www.jimonlight.com/2016/02/15/video-massive-stage-fire-mumbai-political-rally/

[Steve Alves]

Although an "electrical short" was given as the cause, there was pyro in use downstage near where the fire started.
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/fire-breaks-out-on-stage-at-make-in-india-week-event-in-mumbai-1277324
Also Jimonlight.com has other videos which show the flames reaching the overhead truss and moving lights and a line array on fire.
http://www.jimonlight.com/2016/02/15/video-massive-stage-fire-mumbai-political-rally/

It definitely started under center stage. Even with all the fire extinguishers and finally firefighters they had working, it went up fast.. Took out the entire stage and reached the array. They said wind was a factor but I think you are right, looks more like pyro to me than electrical.

[Brian Jojade]

Fortunately, thanks to you ppl. I am now the only person I know who actually has RCCB's installed across my power distros. But i am small small shop. And at least 3 companies in this country are trussing to international safety standards.

I hope you didn't just replace your standard breakers in your distress with RCCBs.  This is something I have seen done, and could easily be the cause of electrical fires.  RCCBs protect against earth fault failures, which is great in preventing electrical shock.  However, an RCCB does not have over current protection, and thus, if you replaced your breakers, you now have a risk of overloading your circuits.  You need both in place in order to have a safe system.

[Nitin Sidhu]

I hope you didn't just replace your standard breakers in your distress with RCCBs.  This is something I have seen done, and could easily be the cause of electrical fires.  RCCBs protect against earth fault failures, which is great in preventing electrical shock.  However, an RCCB does not have over current protection, and thus, if you replaced your breakers, you now have a risk of overloading your circuits.  You need both in place in order to have a safe system.

Brian, thank you for your concern, RCCBs would be incorrect. We have RCBO's. So overcurrent protection also. All RCBO's in branch circuits for our 3 phase distro, and a TPN as the main feeder.

I also augmented with RCBo while I was not distressed! In fact very satisfied about it. Though I am very distressed now. :{

RCBO's only for our single phase supplies. Which we use in bars etc.

[ProSoundWeb Community]