1 week Ago By Kapil Dixit
PRAYAGRAJ: A fire at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) ward at Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi, on Friday late night claimed the lives of ten newborn babies, has come as an eye-opener for the police, fire, and district authorities. The fire department has launched a week-long special fire safety audit (Nov 16 to 22) at all the hospitals in the city, trans Ganga, and trans Yamuna pockets of the district. Chief Fire Officer (Prayagraj) RK Pandey told TOI that the department has roped in as many as eight teams, including Civil Lines, Naini, Handia, Meja, Phulpur, Soraon, Koraon, and Bara, to check the status of firefighting equipment and submit their reports at the earliest.
He added, “These teams will be checking installation, functional status, as well as upgradation of firefighting arrangements at around 140 hospitals in city areas and trans Ganga and Yamuna pockets." The officials have also asked owners and management of hospitals, including private and govt, to improve fire safety apparatus or notices will be served to them after inspection. On Saturday, a team of senior fire department officials inspected the status of firefighting apparatus at Sarojini Naidu Children Hospital (Prayagraj) and Maa Bhagwati Mother & Child Care Centre (Muir Road) and issued necessary guidelines.
The CFO, however, said, “Fire officials have also issued Dos and Don’ts to hospital staff during the inspection." Meanwhile, the CFO has asked teams to check the status of electric wiring after acknowledging the fact that the majority of fire incidents take place due to old and rotten electric wiring. Moreover, hospital authorities have also been advised to install advanced firefighting systems and remove outdated firefighting equipment while carrying out checks at some hospitals in trans Yamuna and trans Ganga pockets.
Officials are also checking whether hospital establishments in the city have obtained NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Electrical Safety Directorate or not and will take actions accordingly. However, officials of the fire department, taking a cue from the Jhansi medical college incident, have advised hospital management in the city to opt for an electric safety audit from the Electrical Safety Directorate at the earliest. Fire department officials have also advised hospital management to go for new wiring as old wiring is unable to bear increased load and often causes short circuits.
A four-point safety guideline has also been issued, appealing to authorities concerned to ensure that clearance should be maintained on exit routes and each and every hospital should install firefighting arrangements. A recent survey conducted by the department has revealed that more than 60% of commercial establishments in the city neither have adequate firefighting arrangements nor do people know about the steps that should be taken in case of a fire. Officials of the fire department, meanwhile, said, “Fire officials have been regularly advising people to install advanced firefighting arrangements, especially a well-planned escape route.
” Commercial complexes must have the required number of fire extinguishers, first aid hose reels, terrace tanks, and terrace pumps. The arrangements should be accordingly enhanced if the size and shape of a commercial establishment..
