CUTTACK: Even as over 200 hospitals and nursing homes are sitting ducks for AMRI-like tragedies, thanks to an abject disregard for fire safety norms, a shaken district administration has decided to crack the whip. The administration is all set to start a joint exercise with Fire Services department to assess fire prevention and safety mechanisms in all the medical institutions in the millennium city. Any violation would be strictly acted upon as per corresponding laws and also under the Clinical Establishments Act. The hospitals here are extremely vulnerable to mishaps of the Kolkata-kind not only on account of not adhering to the safety rules, but also due to their locations. Cuttack, being the health hub of the State, is estimated to house over 200 hospitals and nursing homes though none come in the large or big establishment category that amounts to more than 100 beds. What has become a major concern is that most of the establishments are located in narrow lanes and bylanes where emergency assistance and services like movement of fire engines in times of mishaps cannot be carried out. The issue is more serious as most of the people in the hospitals comprise patients, who are infirm and cannot move on their own during mishaps. “The assessment would be looking at all aspects from adoption of fire prevention and safety measures to accessibility and exit points. Inventories on the hazardous radioactive materials and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRNs) in the hospitals would be made and kept track of. Those found violating the norms would be issued show-cause notices and be liable to action under relevant laws as well as the Clinical Establishments Act, if it provides for”, Collector Girish S N said. The Fire Services department has admitted that not even a single hospital or nursing home has bare minimum fire safety mechanisms. The establishments do not even seek the mandatory no-objection certificates from the Fire Services to start operations, sources said. According to the rules, the hospitals should have elaborate mechanisms to facilitate easy movement and escape of the patients in times of emergency. There should be mandatory fire exits at every floor with wide stairways. Fire fighting equipment should be installed at every level. But none have adhered to these rules. “We also cannot take any action against violations as the Fire Services wing is still bereft of enforcement power as the Rules under the Orissa Fire Services Act, 1993. The Kolkata incident should come as an eye-opener for all concerned and a coordinated effort on the part of all from district administration, police to fire services wing is needed to ensure not only the hospitals that are under focus now but also every multi-storied building is put to scanner”, Fire Officer, Cuttack, Chandramani Routray, said.
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