It is essential to obtain no objection certificate (NOC) from fire department for every hotel, educational institute, shopping mall, hospital, automobile showroom, industry and a commercial house before opening.

Hotels are mushrooming at twin city Ambala being closer to Chandigarh and tourist places in Himachal where hotels are too costly as compared to Ambala situated at the meeting point of several states and visitors on way to these places usually prefer to spend night at Ambala.

There are nearly 25 hotels at Ambala Cantt and 15 hotels in Ambala City but most of these lack security measures and functioning without having NOC from fire department. Information reveals that most of the hotels in twin city located in thickly populated residential areas, even in streets violating norms and security measures to inmates.

According to the sources, while investigating a case of female suicide in a hotel near inter-state bus stand Ambala Cantt few months ago police sealed six hotels in Lalkurti Bazar area having over a dozed hotels, which were allowed to be open after sometime by political pressure on administration.

As per the National Building Code, there should be a provision for two stairs in case the height of building is more than 15 feet, provision for siren in case of an emergency, sufficient fire fighting equipment, parking place in front of building and installation of sprinker system in case the building has 200 meters basement.