Over 50 T hospitals in ‘fire'ing line for not adhering to safety norms

Notices Served To 38 Hosp,23 Facing Prosecution ,Inspected 112 Hosps: Fire Dept

- Moulika.KV

Hyderabad: A day after a tragic fire accident in the ICU of a Covid-care hospital in Palghar (Maharashtra) left 15 dead, turns out over 50 hospitals in Telangana are sitting ducks for similar tragedies.

In fact, during a recent inspection drive, the disaster reponse and fire services department issued notices to 38 hospitals, spread across the state, for not adhering to any fire safety norms mentioned in the rulebook. Worse, another 23 hospital buildings — the inspection revealed — are currently facing prosecution for failing to fall in line, despite repeated warnings.

Incidentally, majority of these hospitals are treating Covid-19 patients. And yet, they were found to be inadequately equipped to handle fire emergencies, putting at risk the lives of patients, their attendants and even the hospital staff.

But while these hopsitals have come under the radar of authorities, doctors working in state-run government hospitals claim that the number of facilities flouting fire safety norms, is much higher. “The fire NOC is usually given before issuing the building Occupancy Certificate and is renewed periodically. But not many are aware of this. Most hospitals do not even have the basic firefighting equipment ready to extinguish small fires,” said a senior doctor working at Gandhi Hospital.