Spl officers to look at O2 facilities

Officials to ensure smooth operation of oxygen supply, power supply, fire safety

THANE: The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), on Friday, announced the appointment of special officers to look into the oxygen facilities, fire safety and electric supply. Meanwhile, the fire department claims that barring five or seven small private hospitals, every hospital and Covid centre within the city have submitted their fire compliance.

Dr Vipin Sharma, TMC chief, said, “Keeping in mind the increasing prevalence of the virus and the stress that hospitals are undergoing, we have appointed special officials to ensure smooth operation of oxygen supply facilities, power supply security and fire safety. These officers will look into these facilities across hospitals and Covid centres within TMC.”

Meanwhile, as per TMC’s fire department, all the Covid centres and hospitals have adhered to fire compliance. “There are around seven private hospitals that have not submitted the fire compliance due to technical issues. We shall be sending them another notice this week. Apart from that, all the hospitals and Covid facilities are following the necessary fire safety norms including the makeshift Covid centres. They have been built such that there is enough space between various wards, provisions for separate washrooms and space to escape in case of an emergency has also been provided,” said Girish Zalke, chief, dire department, TMC.

However, there is ample load on hospitals in terms of electricity and there is hardly any possibility to conduct regular maintenance as in the current situation all appliances are on full time.

“With most beds, ICU and ventilators in use within private and government facilities, similar manpower and infrastructure are also in use. This adds a lot of pressure on the power supply and the facilities that are available, unlike in normal conditions when only a handful of ventilators or ICU are operational. This may also be one of the reasons for a few untoward incidents that have occurred in the recent times,” said Dr Santosh Kadam, president, IMA, Thane chapter.

TMC claimed that power supply systems and safety measures will be checked in the next week.

PRAFUL GANGURDE / HT Health workers load empty oxygen cylinders from Thane Civil Hospital to be taken for refilling, on Saturday.