The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has directed coronavirus facilities across Mumbai to conduct a fire audit and also assess their structural integrity following a fire at a private COVID-19 hospital in Dreams Mall (Bhandup) last week that killed 11 people.
The guidelines were issued by BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal wherein all 147 private, government, and civic hospitals, as well as COVID-19 facilities, were asked to carry out the aforementioned process immediately.
The BMC initiated a similar audit to ascertain fire safety of all the hospitals in the city following a fire at the Bhandara District Hospital in January this year which claimed the lives of 10 newborns.
Also read - 11 Dead In Major Fire At COVID-19 Hospital In Bhandup Mall
The subsequent fire audit found that out of the 1,178 hospitals and nursing homes in the city, around 762 of them were non-compliant with the civic body’s norms. Some of the violations listed were lack of a fire alarm, sprinkler system, and smoke detectors. Moreover, some hospitals were found to have non-functioning fire fighting equipment.
The death of coronavirus patients in the fire has understandably led to outrage from all corners. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray visited the site on Friday, March 26, to inspect the damage. The CM passed his condolences while also declaring remuneration of ₹5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.
Read - 10 Infants Killed In Fire At Maharashtra Hospital; CM Thackeray Orders Inquiry
As per the provisions of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, building owners with lax fire safety measures are given 120 days to fix the issues while they are also required to submit a detailed report with the fire brigade.
The fire broke out at around 12:30 AM in Sunrise Hospital which is situated within Bhandup’s Dreams Mall. Reports have suggested that a majority of the patients that succumbed to the fire were on ventilator support.
Also read - Mumbai Police Arrests 92 People For Flouting COVID-19 Norms
Share
Tweet
