Putting the lives of thousands of people visiting government hospitals in need of medical care at risk, about 11 government-run-hospitals in the city are operating without the mandatory NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the fire department.
These hospitals have no rescue plan in case of a calamity.
In what could be an eye-opener for the government, a major fire broke out on the 6th floor of Delhi’s GTB Hospital on May 29 posing a threat to the life of patients there. However, there were no casualties and injuries in the incident even as furniture, medicines and equipment were gutted in the blaze. It had taken about 18 fire tenders to douse the fire. Around, six months ago, a fire was reported from the Trauma ICU complex of the hospital.
Well informed about the situation of the government hospitals not being equipped to handle fire emergencies, Delhi health minister Dr A.K. Walia said, “We will obtain fire NOC for all the hospitals latest by June 10.”
Pointing out the importance of NOC, Delhi fire chief A.K. Sharma said: “A list of 11 hospitals is ready with us. These hospitals do not have fire-NOC, which is mandatory for all the hospitals to have, as they do not fulfil the conditions of getting NOC from us.”
Among the rules to obtain an NOC from fire department, a hospital should have water tank, emergency exit gates and many more.
Of these 11 hospitals, about five are big ones, whereas six are 200-bedded.
According to fire officials, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Dr Hedgewar Arogya Sansthan, Health Centre-cum-Maternity Hospital, GB Pant Hospital, Acharyashree Bhikshu Hospital, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, GTB Hospital, LN Hospital, BR Sur Homeopathic Medical College, Guru Govind Singh Govt Hospital and Guru Nanak Eye Centre do not have the mandatory NOC from fire department.