DC orders fire audit of hospitals and clinics

Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram Vinay Pratap Singh has ordered public officials an immediate audit on the fire safety in hospitals and clinics and to submit their report by August.

The strict order by the DC came after the incident of fire at Sheetla Hospital in New Railway road on Friday. Reportedly the hospital did not have the NOC of fire safety from the fire department.

It is estimated that there are more than 300 private hospitals and clinics that are operational in the city.

According to official sources most of these institutions have not applied for fire safety clearance. Taking cognisance over the risk that is posed to thousands of patients to take strong action against the medical institutions that are operating without the NOC. Since these units are situated in densely populated areas, the difficulty for rescue operations increases as was witnessed during the operation to douse fire at Sheetla hospital.

According to law, it is mandated that any building that is 15 metres in height must renew their NOC on fire safety every year yet most of the public buildings do not adhere by the rules.

In April this year the fire department had issued more than 200 notices to the high rises that did had not renewed their NOC on fire safety for years.

Shockingly, RTI information earlier in the year had also exposed that how more than 60 private schools were at risk because of improper equipments and devices to handle major fire incidents.

A major tragedy was averted at the hospital on Friday after fire broke out due to short circuit in the AC of the rooms.