Private Hospitals in the City Negligent About Fire Safety Systems

Pimpri Chinchwad | Following the fire incident at a hospital in Delhi in May, where seven children died due to burning, the Commissioner of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Shekhar Singh, had ordered a review of fire safety systems in hospitals. However, in the last six months, only 56 hospitals out of 623 have installed fire safety systems despite 568 hospitals being issued letters.

On May 25, a massive fire broke out at the New Born Baby Care Hospital in Vivek Vihar, East Delhi. Seven newborns died due to the fire, while five others were critically injured. In light of this incident, Commissioner Shekhar Singh took serious note of the matter and directed the medical and fire departments to gather detailed information on how many hospitals in Pimpri-Chinchwad have a proper fire safety system in place.

The municipal medical department has a record of 623 hospitals. In the last six months, letters were sent to 568 hospitals requesting the installation of fire safety systems. Following this, 184 hospitals filed applications for obtaining a no-objection certificate from the fire department. Upon inspection, it was found that many hospitals had deficiencies in their fire safety systems. These deficiencies were communicated to the respective hospitals to be rectified. As of now, only 56 hospitals have a functional fire safety system. Furthermore, 468 hospitals that had been sent letters six months ago are now being issued notices.

Despite the letters, several hospitals have not installed fire safety systems, and as a result, notices are being issued to them. If the hospitals do not install the required fire safety systems even after receiving notices, the medical department will be instructed not to renew their licenses.