Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - HT Navi Mumbai Live
‘Dreams Mall a firefighting nightmare’
Fire department, civic body and CM order detailed probe
MUMBAI: The firefighting system, including the sprinklers inside the mall, were non-functional owing to which the fire on Thursday night spread to the upper floors of Dreams Mall in Bhandup, killing nine patients in Sunrise Hospital housed on its third floor, according to the Mumbai fire brigade.
Nine senior citizens suffering from Covid-19, six of whom were on ventilator support, died, however, the cause is yet to be ascertained. The fire brigade said they had issued a notice to the mall for non-compliance with safety norms in November 2020.
Hemant Parab, deputy chief fire officer, said, “In the backdrop of a fire last year in City Centre Mall, we had inspected Dreams Mall. A notice was issued to them for non-compliance of fire safety violations due to certain concerns. During firefighting, we observed that none of the fire safety mechanisms got activated inside the mall. We will conduct a detailed probe into the incident now.”
In a statement, the hospital said, “The fire was on the first floor of Dreams Mall, Bhandup and not in the hospital. The smoke had reached up to Sunrise Hospital located at the top floor. All fire alarms beeped and hence all patients were safely evacuated due to the smoke to the fire refuge area .There were 2 dead bodies (due to Covid) which were also evacuated. There was no casualty due to fire. All patients were promptly shifted to jumbo Covid centre (and some to other private hospitals). The patients were shifted alive, but there were few patients on ventilator and extremely critical. We believe that the casualties have not occurred due to fire, but either in transit or at other hospitals…It is functioning with all due compliances like fire licence nursing home licence etc .The hospital staff did their best in safely evacuating patients on wheelchairs and beds to the refuge areas and by following the fire drills. The patients were then shifted with the help of local authorities. We have spoken to the authorities and request them to investigate and find the cause of the fire. The guilty need to be punished as the lives of people have been lost in the unfortunate incident.”
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has maintained that they will also probe if there were any other violations inside the mall. V Acharekar, assistant municipal commissioner of the BMC’s ward, said, “The hospital had occupation certificate and also the fire compliance to operate, but we are told there were fire violations inside the mall. However, that is under fire department’s purview, but I have asked my staff to investigate whether there were any other structural violations inside the mall.”
Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner of BMC, said, “The hospital had all permissions to operate including the fire NOC was in place. We have also come to know that there was no problem with the hospital considering the fire was in the mall. The patients who died also had no burn injuries, and hence we are suspecting they died due to suffocation. But the postmortem report is awaited.”
In a statement issued on Friday evening, the BMC stated, “The municipal administration has requested the Bhandup police to conduct a detailed police inquiry into the accident. Police have initiated proceedings accordingly. Meanwhile, the exact cause of the fire is still unclear. The Mumbai Fire Brigade has initiated action to find out the cause.”
According to BMC, there were 78 patients inside the hospital. Post the incident, two were already dead due to Covid-19, and nine died due to the fire. Overall, 30 firefighting vehicles were used followed by more than ten ambulances. The fire was brought under control by Friday afternoon, however, the firefighting was still underway at the time of going to press.
As of Friday evening, the BMC had traced 46 patients who were evacuated from the hospital due to the fire. According to BMC officials, many were shifted to nearby hospitals whereas many opted to go home.
Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray who visited the spot has ordered an inquiry into the incident and announced ₹5 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has again ordered a fire audit of all Covid-19 hospitals and health centres and Mumbai. Mayor Kishori Pednekar had also ordered inquiry into how a Covid hospital was allowed to be run inside a mall. During his visit, Thackeray said, “An inquiry will be ordered. If there is any negligence or delay in it, it will be investigated and action will be taken against those who are responsible for it. The hospital had temporary permission, which was due to end on March 31... I have already asked state authorities to carry out structural and fire audits of hospitals and Covid Care Centres, Jumbo facilities and ensure no such incidents happen.”
However, the BJP alleged the BMC had issued occupation certificates to the hospital by bending laws in order to change users. The BJP has also alleged that they had repeatedly complained to the authorities about fire safety violations at the mall, but no cognisance was taken by the authorities. Prabhakar Shinde, BJP corporator, said, “A case of homicide should be registered against the officials who allowed the operations of the hospital inside the mall. Despite repeated complaints by local BJP corporator Sakshi Dalvi, it was ignored due to political pressure. In reply to the complaint in writing, the Medical Officer Health Department of BMC said that they had issued a certificate of registration to Sunrise Hospital. The fire brigade also issued a no-objection certificate.”
Former CM Devendra Fadnavis who visited the spot said, “It seems that the authorities have not learnt from past incidents in Bhandara or even in Apex Hospital in Mulund last year.