AMRI stings fire officials into action

HYDERABAD: Following the Kolkata hospital fire tragedy, the state Fire Services Department has issued orders to crack the whip on some of the major multi-storeyed hospitals in Hyderabad that have failed to comply with fire safety norms. Regional fire officer (RFO) G Narayana, who is the prosecuting authority, says the initiative to bring the rule-breakers to book will be taken up in the next few days. Memo were issued to the errant hospitals before the Kolkata fire took place. With that tragedy throwing focus on hospital safety, “there is all the more reason for big hospitals to fall in line,” said the RFO.After the Park Hospital fire in Hyderabad last year, a survey of hospital fire safety measures was conducted by Fire Services. Since notices did not result in compliance by the hospitals, the department is proceeding to prosecute the defaulters.High-rise buildings exceeding 30 m in height are required to annually renew the NOC issued by the Fire Services Department, a procedure few hospitals obey.“The NOC is issued based on the initial safety standards of an occupied building. It is in the interests of the occupants that these precautions are taken. Over the past few months the department has been paying special attention to fire safety maintenance,” Narayana said.The guidelines issued by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department in January 2011 as per GO Ms.No.2 list the firesafety measures to be followed by high-rise hospital buildings. Guidelines for protecting the basement from possible fire accidents is also a part of the report, overlooking which cost the AMRI hospital in Kolkata dearly.