Government hospitals lack advanced fire fighting equipments

ALLAHABAD: Swaroop Rani Nehru (SRN) hospital and Sarojini Naidu Children's hospital - the two government hospitals of Sangam city - lack advanced fire fighting arrangements.

The officials of fire department detected the shortcomings after carrying out a detailed survey cum inspection report of the two government hospitals and submitted the report to senior administrative officials including District Magistrate, state fire headquarter as well as Principal, MLN Medical college suggesting immediate corrective measures and action.

Chief Fire Officer (CFO) RS Mishra told TOI "department has asked hospital authorities to take corrective measures to upgrade the fire fighting arrangements as well as installation of latest fire fighting equipment's.

CFO further maintained that the inspection cum survey report of SRN hospital revealed that the approach path (pahuch marg) toward hospital was available as per the norms but there was no arrangements of automatic sprinkler system , first aid hose reel, automatic fire breaking alarming system, Public Address System (PAS), fireman switch attached fire lift, and Wet Riser- Down comer system.

Mishra also claimed the underground and upper water tank are under-construction stage but there was more need of fire extinguishers. The hospital currently has a total of 52 fire extinguisher cylinders but need 25 more as per the requirements.

Pointedly, the hospital has alternative routes and exit points in case of fire but fire drill was not conducted since long time. Similarly, hospital has also alternative source of power generation and this was in working condition. The good thing is that the hospital staff was found trained to handle fire extinguishers.

Mishra, meanwhile, claimed that the inspection cum survey of Sarojini Naidu Bal Chikitsalaya revealed that the hospital drastically needs automatic sprinkler system, manually operated electric fire alarm system, Wet Riser system, Yard hydrants, and adequate number of fire extinguishers (fire extinguisher cylinders).

District Magistrate, Sanjay Kumar said "I have asked concerned authorities to ensure availability of advanced and required fire fighting equipments from the funds at the earliest".

Principal, MLN Medical college, Dr SP Singh, however, told TOI "a project worth Rs 4.5 crore was underway to install advanced fire fighting arrangements in the hospital and would be completed within a year". He further added "all the wards and operation theaters would be covered with the latest fire fighting arrangements".

Dr. Singh was of the view that its a time taking process to install the advanced fire fighting system but hoped to get it installed at the earliest.