Malls: How safe are they?

Malls: How safe are they?
The death of 6-year-old Ahan Bhandari at Garuda Mall on Sunday has brought the issue of safety at malls into focus. R Jayprakash investigates


Come back, hold my hand. The boy slipped from the same spot yesterday. Don’t move out of my sight, a fiveyear-old girl’s father yells out in Garuda Mall.
And why not? More than 1 lakh people spend their weekends in the dozen-odd malls that dot the city. This is the first-ever fatal accident in a mall in Bangalore and it has brought several issues to fore — dangerous spots, building safety aspects and security.
Bangaloreans spend most of their shopping time at malls — be it for branded products or to catch up for a movie or even to kill time by gaming. International brands, designer clothing, watches or leatherwear — Bangalore’s buzzword is ‘mall-ing’ around.
And the favourite pastime here is to ‘hang around’ — stand and lean against railings in the corridors or the main well. And this habit proved fatal for Ahan Bhandari.
At Garuda Mall, there is an increase in security personnel. Guards have metal detectors, but they aren’t bothered to use it. Around 300 lifestyle stores set the complex abuzz. It is jam-packed and cramped. There are 42 CCTV cameras located strategically, but it seems they are of use only to retrieve footage after accidents. The gaps between escalators and railings tell a tragic tale and yet, no one seems to be bothered to do anything.
Glass railings, which look stunning with glitzy stores in the background, also make you ask: can it take my weight? The escalators look abnormally steep and terrify any beginner to the malling culture. While many are in two minds to step on the escalator, it is a game to many carefree schoolchildren.
“It is impossible to control kids. They are full of energy. Kids are our responsibility and there is no point in blaming anyone,’’ feels Subhash Kandur, while he holds both his sons’ hands to negotiate an escalator.
And talk about security, it’s a revelation. The mall is under the scanner of cameras that keep a 24/7 tab on events. That apart, there is absolutely no filtering, frisking or detection. There are two levels of basement parking and cars can carry anything into the mall. Forum Mall is a huge hit among Bangaloreans. On a weekday, there are around 30,000 people in the mall. On weekends, the number shoots up to 50,000.
The mall is chock-a-block, but man management is down in the dumps. While the escalator is broad and not that steep, the height of railings has been raised to bust-level. But again, the everleaning guests are very susceptible to losing their balance. T G Vinod, DGM, mall operations gives a low-down: “We have deputed assistants at escalators. Many visitors are first-timers, so we help them around. Well railings are especially popular among guests. We have wardens who keep a close eye on them.’’
Talk about security and you draw a blank. Though he says that his personnel are strategically positioned to even see the underbelly of cars, it leaves you wondering about the seriousness involved in putting the vehicles to scrutiny.
There are 42 CCTVs and more than 3 lakh sqft has been allocated to park around 800 cars. There are around 30,000 people at any given point, 800 cars and 500 plush apartment complex in the neighbourhood and no security!
At Sigma Mall, many shops have not yet opened and the escalators aren’t functional. And don’t even talk about the railings.
Malls told to increase safety & security measures
Civic authorities woke up to the issue of safety shopping malls on Monday, a day after the tragic death of six-year-old Ahan Bhandari. BBMP officials, along with the police, visited Garuda Mall and took a safety round-up and identified vulnerable areas inside the mall. The mall authority was advised to put up a net cover on the first floor to avert fatal falls.
“We got a first-hand information about the tragedy. All the malls in the city have been advised to increase the number of security guards,’’ said joint commissioner of BBMP, Nagaraj.
“CCTV visuals showed that the accident took place due to the gap between the railing and escalator and it will be covered with immediate effect in all malls.”
“A direction in this regard will be sent across to all malls through a letter by the city police commissioner,’’ a senior police officer said.
‘Mall built in
contravention
of vaastu’
One reason Garuda Mall has been reeling under controversies, including lift jams, fire accident and the death of a 6-year-old is that the builders have completely ignored elements of Vaastu.
So says Vaastu consultant Daivajna K N Somayaji. The Bramhasthana — the energy centre of the building — has been completely blocked. “The place is bound to have more disasters and tragedies if it is not corrected at once. It is located at a good place and will have good business, but will certainly not be free of controversies,’’ he said.
“The ancient Indian science of architecture and buildings helps in making a congenial setting to live and work. The scientific thinking that takes advantage of the benefits bestowed by nature, its elements and energy fields for enhanced wealth, health, prosperity and happiness cannot be ignored,’’ he said.
The mall, like many other malls, has the lifts and elevators placed on the wrong side. “The mall has to make minor changes at its entrance. Lifts and elevators must be replaced. The five elements called ‘Panchabhootas’ will then pave the way for enhanced health, wealth, prosperity and happiness in the mall,’’ Somayaji explained.




•
Members of Shanthinagar Residents’ Welfare Association stage a demonstration outside Garuda Mall on Monday


Malls in the city have been instructed to beef up security measures to protect visitors


COMPLAINT
NOT FILED
han’s family members have not filed
Aany complaint against the mall authority. A resident welfare association held a protest in front of Garuda Mall demanding action against the mall authority. Protesters alleged that the lack of safety measures at mall resulted in the boy’s death. They submitted a memorandum to the police. Malls: How safe are they?
The death of 6-year-old Ahan Bhandari at Garuda Mall on Sunday has brought the issue of safety at malls into focus. R Jayprakash investigates


Come back, hold my hand. The boy slipped from the same spot yesterday. Don’t move out of my sight, a fiveyear-old girl’s father yells out in Garuda Mall.
And why not? More than 1 lakh people spend their weekends in the dozen-odd malls that dot the city. This is the first-ever fatal accident in a mall in Bangalore and it has brought several issues to fore — dangerous spots, building safety aspects and security.
Bangaloreans spend most of their shopping time at malls — be it for branded products or to catch up for a movie or even to kill time by gaming. International brands, designer clothing, watches or leatherwear — Bangalore’s buzzword is ‘mall-ing’ around.
And the favourite pastime here is to ‘hang around’ — stand and lean against railings in the corridors or the main well. And this habit proved fatal for Ahan Bhandari.
At Garuda Mall, there is an increase in security personnel. Guards have metal detectors, but they aren’t bothered to use it. Around 300 lifestyle stores set the complex abuzz. It is jam-packed and cramped. There are 42 CCTV cameras located strategically, but it seems they are of use only to retrieve footage after accidents. The gaps between escalators and railings tell a tragic tale and yet, no one seems to be bothered to do anything.
Glass railings, which look stunning with glitzy stores in the background, also make you ask: can it take my weight? The escalators look abnormally steep and terrify any beginner to the malling culture. While many are in two minds to step on the escalator, it is a game to many carefree schoolchildren.
“It is impossible to control kids. They are full of energy. Kids are our responsibility and there is no point in blaming anyone,’’ feels Subhash Kandur, while he holds both his sons’ hands to negotiate an escalator.
And talk about security, it’s a revelation. The mall is under the scanner of cameras that keep a 24/7 tab on events. That apart, there is absolutely no filtering, frisking or detection. There are two levels of basement parking and cars can carry anything into the mall. Forum Mall is a huge hit among Bangaloreans. On a weekday, there are around 30,000 people in the mall. On weekends, the number shoots up to 50,000.
The mall is chock-a-block, but man management is down in the dumps. While the escalator is broad and not that steep, the height of railings has been raised to bust-level. But again, the everleaning guests are very susceptible to losing their balance. T G Vinod, DGM, mall operations gives a low-down: “We have deputed assistants at escalators. Many visitors are first-timers, so we help them around. Well railings are especially popular among guests. We have wardens who keep a close eye on them.’’
Talk about security and you draw a blank. Though he says that his personnel are strategically positioned to even see the underbelly of cars, it leaves you wondering about the seriousness involved in putting the vehicles to scrutiny.
There are 42 CCTVs and more than 3 lakh sqft has been allocated to park around 800 cars. There are around 30,000 people at any given point, 800 cars and 500 plush apartment complex in the neighbourhood and no security!
At Sigma Mall, many shops have not yet opened and the escalators aren’t functional. And don’t even talk about the railings.
Malls told to increase safety & security measures
Civic authorities woke up to the issue of safety shopping malls on Monday, a day after the tragic death of six-year-old Ahan Bhandari. BBMP officials, along with the police, visited Garuda Mall and took a safety round-up and identified vulnerable areas inside the mall. The mall authority was advised to put up a net cover on the first floor to avert fatal falls.
“We got a first-hand information about the tragedy. All the malls in the city have been advised to increase the number of security guards,’’ said joint commissioner of BBMP, Nagaraj.
“CCTV visuals showed that the accident took place due to the gap between the railing and escalator and it will be covered with immediate effect in all malls.”
“A direction in this regard will be sent across to all malls through a letter by the city police commissioner,’’ a senior police officer said.
‘Mall built in
contravention
of vaastu’
One reason Garuda Mall has been reeling under controversies, including lift jams, fire accident and the death of a 6-year-old is that the builders have completely ignored elements of Vaastu.
So says Vaastu consultant Daivajna K N Somayaji. The Bramhasthana — the energy centre of the building — has been completely blocked. “The place is bound to have more disasters and tragedies if it is not corrected at once. It is located at a good place and will have good business, but will certainly not be free of controversies,’’ he said.
“The ancient Indian science of architecture and buildings helps in making a congenial setting to live and work. The scientific thinking that takes advantage of the benefits bestowed by nature, its elements and energy fields for enhanced wealth, health, prosperity and happiness cannot be ignored,’’ he said.
The mall, like many other malls, has the lifts and elevators placed on the wrong side. “The mall has to make minor changes at its entrance. Lifts and elevators must be replaced. The five elements called ‘Panchabhootas’ will then pave the way for enhanced health, wealth, prosperity and happiness in the mall,’’ Somayaji explained.




•
Members of Shanthinagar Residents’ Welfare Association stage a demonstration outside Garuda Mall on Monday


Malls in the city have been instructed to beef up security measures to protect visitors


COMPLAINT
NOT FILED
han’s family members have not filed
Aany complaint against the mall authority. A resident welfare association held a protest in front of Garuda Mall demanding action against the mall authority. Protesters alleged that the lack of safety measures at mall resulted in the boy’s death. They submitted a memorandum to the police.