Police Flag Hostel Safety Lapses In Hyderabad
Women Safety Wing DCP Lavanya said 10 special teams comprising 35 personnel inspected 446 hostels over nine weeks. While 97.5 per cent had CCTV, over 30 per cent were non‑functional.
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad police said only 30 per cent of hostels had non‑functional CCTV cameras and none had fire safety plans in place. The findings were released on Friday through Suraksha Nivas 1.0 under the Project Safe Stay initiative, conducted with the Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC).
Women Safety Wing DCP Lavanya said 10 special teams comprising 35 personnel inspected 446 hostels over nine weeks. While 97.5 per cent had CCTV, over 30 per cent were non‑functional. Only 43 per cent had proper compound walls, 38.9 per cent had fire safety equipment and none had fire exit plans. She added that 44 per cent displayed GHMC licences, while 62 per cent scored below 40 on safety, indicating weak measures.
Police commissioner Sajjanar said every women’s hostel and PG operator must register details at local police stations. He stressed the need for 24/7 security guards, monitoring of entry and exit points, and implementation of the “Safe Bathrooms Concept” to prevent incidents due to structural defects. He also urged hostel managements to form an association to resolve common issues.
GHMC commissioner R.V. Karnan said operating hostels falls under “Trade” and requires a municipal trade licence. He added that maintaining proper registration books of all entrants and conducting background checks on staff and service providers is mandatory under police guidelines.
