Several violations of fire safety norms have been found in Chembur’s Surana Sethia Hospital, where fire had broken out on Sunday evening. Taking serious note of this, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a notice to the hospital threatening legal action if norms are not complied within 24 hours.
According to the fire officials, it was found that fire-fighting equipment of the hospital were not in working condition. In addition to this, staircase and terrace was also found encroached upon.
“We have asked the Reliance Energy company to disconnect the power supply to the hospital and also directed the assistant commissioner to take strict action against it for encroachments. A notice under Maharashtra Fire Life Safety (MFLS) Act has been served for compliance within 24 hours. If not complied with, instructions have been given to launch legal action against the hospital,” said a senior civic official.
Around 40 patients and staff were evacuated from the seven-storey Surana Sethia Hospital situated on the Sion-Trombay Road as fire broke out in a casualty ward on fifth and ICU ward on the sixth floor on Sunday. Due to this, several floors, including the ICU, were filled with smoke. Four fire engines, three tankers and two ambulances were rushed to the spot by the Mumbai fire brigade to control the fire.
“The fire was confined to electric panel, electric wiring, installation, computer and its accessories, furniture, AC, duct, false ceiling, papers, files, beds in ICU on the fifth floor,” said a fire official.
The hospital was evacuated and out of the 34 patients who were present in the hospital, five were discharged and 29 patients were moved to other hospitals. Also, two patients and six employees were rescued from the building’s staircase.
Date : September 22, 2015