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Hyderabad: Over 700 hospitals served fire safety notice

Experts expect follow-up.

Hyderabad: In the past two years, some 700 small and big hospitals in the city have been served notices by the authorities for not adhering to fire safety rules and for misusing their cellar space. The recent Sum Hospital fire tragedy in Odisha has again brought into focus poor adherence to fire safety rules by hospitals. There are more than 1,800 hospitals in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy, 200 of them are more than 20 years old and are located in highly congested localities.

The Telangana Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association has stated that it is not possible to make modifications in the old buildings and have worked out an alternative system whereby water sumps are used to store water which can be used in case of a fire. A senior fire brigade official said, “As there is no space for an exit staircase, some of these hospitals have installed sprinklers and fire extinguishers. But it is not sufficient.”

A senior hospital administrator said on condition of anonymity, “The old buildings were not designed for hospital use. Hence they do not have a proper system. But even those buildings designed as hospitals do not have any free space. In case of a fire, there are so many people at every level of the building, that evacuation will be a challenge.” Cellars, which are actually meant for parking vehicles, instead house canteen, laundry room, solid waste and bio-medical waste collection room and offices and rooms for security personnel.

The fire department and the hospital are supposed to conduct a fire drill with their employees every month, but do not do so. A senior fire brigade official says, “In case of a fire, employees must at least know the exit route or fire fighting method. There is hardly any drill carried out.” A senior official of the GHMC on condition of anonymity, said, “When a notice is served, there is some movement in the hospital, but as there is no strong follow-up action, the issue gets brushed under the carpet. We require more support from other government agencies like water supply and power departments.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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