Nagpur: Nearly a Third of Hospitals Fail Fire Safety Protocols

A recent audit by Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) fire and emergency services department has revealed that a significant number of hospitals in the city are failing to comply with fire safety protocols. The report found that 30% of both government and private hospitals have not obtained the required no-objection certificate (NOC), while the remaining 339 have secured the necessary approval.

Out of 504 registered hospitals, nearly 165 do not possess the required NOC, despite not meeting basic requirements regarding fire safety measures. The audit report suggested that a substantial number of hospitals, including government and private institutions, need to install fire safety measures to ensure patient safety.

In response to the audit findings, Officiating Chief Fire Officer BP Chandankhede has warned of strict penalties for non-compliant hospitals, stating that licenses could be revoked due to failure to meet basic requirements. Additionally, some hospitals with a valid NOC are lacking in basic firefighting arrangements.

The analysis revealed varied results across different fire stations. The Civil Lines fire station, overseeing 133 hospitals, reported only nine completed fire audits despite covering areas under the jurisdictions of several busy commercial centers. In contrast, Cotton Market fire station oversees 69 hospitals in the Dhantoli area, out of which all have been audited but fewer than three-quarters have installed fire safety measures.

In an effort to enforce compliance, Officiating Chief Fire Officer Chandankhede emphasized the importance of prioritizing patient and staff safety. NMC has vowed to take stringent measures to ensure hospital compliance with fire safety protocols.

The Nagpur example mirrors similar reports from other parts of India. In recent times, government institutions have implemented fire safety audits in hospitals under their jurisdiction.