60% Covid facilities in Moga not complying with fire safety norms

MOGA: Nearly 60% private and government Covid-19 facilities in Moga district are treating patients without complying with the fire safety norms, fire department officials said.

Of the 15 Covid centres in the district, only six have fire safety mechanism in place while eight leading private hospitals and civil hospitals are yet to obtain mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the department, it is learnt.

This despite the fact that the Supreme Court in December last year had directed all dedicated Covid-19 facilities to get NOCs from the fire department within four weeks. The SC order had come after some states had witnessed major fires in Covid hospitals, resulting in several casualties.

District fire officer Varinder Kathuria said, “Among those lacking fire safety arrangements are the Moga civil hospital, Harbans Nursing Home and Maternity Hospital, Garg Hospital, Medicity Super Specialty Hospital, Rajeev Hospital, Mittal Hospital and Heart Centre, Garg Nursing Home, Jagdamba Eye Hospital and Aulakh Nursing Home.”

He said, “At these hospitals, hydrants, fire extinguisher, sprinklers, alarm systems and smoke detectors are not in working condition while some of them even do not have these equipment at all. Some hospitals have applied for NOC which will be issued only after proper verification.”

Deputy commissioner Sandeep Hans said, “Recently, a major fire broke out at a store room of a private hospital but luckily no causality was reported. I had ordered a fire audit of private hospitals. The completion of fire safety norms is under the jurisdiction of municipal commissioner.”

MC commissioner Anita Darshi said, “We have issued notices to all those hospitals which are yet to comply with fire safety norms.”