Jalandhar civil hospital lacks fire safety system

The civil hospital Jalandhar has been functioning without a mandatory fire hydrant system for several years. The hospital also failed to set up fire extinguishers into the new building of its maternity ward.

The civil hospital Jalandhar has been functioning without a mandatory fire hydrant system for several years.

HT Image

The hospital also failed to set up fire extinguishers into the new building of its maternity ward. The fire extinguishers installed in the other wings were also either out of order or were poorly maintained.

The fire brigade department has also failed to issue any notice to the hospital for not adhering to fire-safety norms.

Seeking anonymity, civil hospital official said that the fire brigade department has been regularly writing to the civil hospital to repair and maintain its fire hydrant system. The fire department had also written to the hospital to appoint a trained person to tackle any emergency.

"We have been demanding financial aid from the helath authorities for repairing the fire hydrant system for long. Our demand has not been adhered to," the official said.

Assistant divisional fire officer, Kashmir Singh, confirmed that his department had written to civil hospital, asking it to get its system in order.

Medical superintendent, Dr Iqbal Singh, said that a demand for funds for the hydrant had been raised with the appropriate authorities.