Fire Safety Negligence: 90% of Pimpri-Chinchwad Hospitals Lack Adequate Fire Prevention Systems
Pune:
In the aftermath of the tragic Delhi hospital fire that claimed the lives of seven children in May, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation launched a city-wide fire safety review. Six months on, the findings reveal a startling gap in compliance, with only 56 out of 623 hospitals having installed adequate fire extinguishing systems.
The review was initiated following the deadly blaze at the Delhi Newborn Baby Care Hospital in East Delhi’s Vivek Vihar on May 25. Seven newborns died in the fire, and five others sustained critical injuries. In the backdrop of this incident, Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh ordered an immediate assessment of fire safety measures in Pimpri-Chinchwad hospitals.
The Municipal Corporation’s medical department maintains a record of 623 hospitals under its jurisdiction. Over the past six months, notices were issued to 568 hospitals, instructing them to install fire safety systems. Despite this, only 184 hospitals have applied for a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department. Of these, inspections uncovered flaws in many facilities, with only 56 meeting fire safety standards.
Deputy Commissioner of Fire Department Manoj Lonkar said, “Even after receiving notices, several hospitals have failed to install adequate fire prevention systems in the hospitals. We are issuing repeated warnings, and if the hospitals continue to ignore them, we will recommend to the medical department that their licenses not be renewed.”
Further notices were recently issued to 468 hospitals that remain non-compliant.
Area-Wise Breakdown of Hospitals
Akurdi: 35
Bhosari: 144
Jijamata: 132
Sangvi: 44
Talera: 116
Thergaon: 95
Yamunanagar: 45
YCM: 12
Total: 623
