Inquiry Exposes 'Decades of Failure' in Grenfell Tower Tragedy

A public inquiry concluded that governmental and construction industry failures led to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, killing 72 people. The report highlighted the roles of the government, local authorities, construction firms, and fire brigade in the disaster due to regulatory negligence, cost-cutting, and safety oversights.

A public inquiry into the devastating 2017 London Grenfell Tower blaze concluded on Wednesday that a 'culmination of decades of failure' by the government and the construction industry ultimately led to the disaster that killed 72 people.

The report detailed how the government, council, architects, contractors, and management firms involved in refitting the exterior with flammable cladding bear much of the blame. The Conservative-led government ignored numerous warnings about the risks posed by combustible cladding and insulation in high-rise buildings. Failures to act on safety concerns date back to a 2001 large-scale test and persisted through subsequent incidents like the 2009 blaze at Lakanal House.

Additionally, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea failed in scrutinizing the design and materials used in the refurbishment, leaving the building in dangerous conditions. The Tenant Management Organisation aimed to cut costs by using ACM panels and shares responsibility for the disaster. Several firms were cited for 'systematic dishonesty' in manipulating safety tests and data.

The London Fire Brigade was also criticized for its preparedness and the assumption that existing regulations would prevent such tragedies. Other bodies, such as the Building Research Establishment and the National House Building Council, were named for enabling unsafe practices due to commercial pressures.

(With inputs from agencies.)