National Capital: RML hospital’s firefighting system found faulty

Central government’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, despite having full resources and firefighting equipments, is not able to manage any emergency situation. In a surprise visit to the hospital, Millennium Post found that fire safety water tank, installed to supply water to douse the fire on condition of any inferno in Emergency Block, is lying damaged for the last seven months.

The height of apathy is that hospital management does not look bothered to get it replaced citing the reason that it’s the responsibility of Public Works Department (PWD). Notably, the hospital has a complete fire safety system worth crores, but due to lack of water supply, all safety tools like smog detector, fire alarm, water sprinklers and water tubes would be of no use in case of emergency.

“The hospital has learnt no lesson from Bhubaneswar’s SUM hospital tragedy in which 21 patients were killed after fire was broke out in ICU unit of the hospital. The RML Hospital has put the life of poor patients at risk. Medical superintendent AK Gadpayle has approved ‘needless’ purchase orders of medical devices worth crores, but has no time to replace the fire safety water tanks,” an official said on condition of anonymity.

The hospital has witnessed fire breaks in recent past, but despite that no such move has been initiated to make fire safety system of the hospital a robust, the official said, adding that the tanks were dismantled in heavy windstorm April. However, when contacted to seek his views, Gadpayle refused to comment on the issue.

Though, Union Health Minister JP Nadda has rapped Bhubaneswar’s SUM hospital for not following safety norms, but he has not yet taken stock of fire safety system of the hospital.