Chandigarh, May 16 -- A day after the DEFLO club bar and lounge in Sector 26 was ravaged in a fire, a preliminary investigation revealed the club was operating without a fire no-objection certificate (NOC) and that it flouted multiple safety norms even as the Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC) failed to ensure compliance. The MC had issued a notice to the club on December 19, 2025 but failed to follow-up on the matter for the next five months. The club owners too, did not respond to the notice or act on it. During an inspection of the club last December, the then mayor Harpreet Babla had termed it as a 'powder keg'. As per the inspection report (a copy of which is with Hindustan Times), the club lacked adequate fire extinguishers, had a non-functional first-aid hose reel system, and did not have the mandatory wet riser system with accessories. An underground static fire water tank with a capacity of 1,00,000 litres was also missing, while the terrace fire water tank did not meet prescribed norms. The report further highlighted that the manually operated electric fire alarm system was non-functional, smoke detectors were out of order, and fire alarm panels lacked battery backup. Several escape routes did not have illuminated "EXIT" signboards. It was also noted that exit routes should remain free of obstacles, and directed the management to treat upholstery, curtains, acoustic panels, ceiling hangings and decorative materials with certified fire-retardant chemicals. The emergency evacuation plan was also not displayed at the premises. MC joint commissioner Inder Jeet-cum-chief fire officer said Deflo club was issued a notice on December 19, 2025 for the safety violations but the club did not act upon it. Babla said it was worrying that nothing was done by the MC even after inspection. The inspection was carried out after a fire at a nightclub in Goa claimed 25 lives. In February this year, the MC had written to the deputy commissioner, stating that a number of establishments in Sector 26 were not complying with the fire safety norms. The deficiencies noted included non-functional and inadequately maintained fire-fighting systems, obstruction of means of exit, electrical safety lapses and absence of trained staff for initial fire response among other critical life-safety shortcomings. Despite the issuance of notices and allowing reasonable time for rectification, full compliance has not been ensured by several establishments, posing a risk to life and property, especially during peak hours and special occasions involving large public gatherings, it was stated....