In the aftermath of a fire at a Covid health facility in Bhandup that killed nine people, the Pune Municipal Corporation has requested a post-fire audit compliance report from all civic and private hospitals in the city.
Following the fire at Bhandara Hospital earlier this year, the hospitals underwent a fire safety audit in January. Officials said that while most hospitals complied with fire safety regulations, they would file comprehensive compliance reports over the next two days. If any recommended work remains unfinished, the hospitals will be required to complete it within the next 10 days, according to a civic official.
After the Bhandara hospital fire, their teams went to the hospitals to perform tests, according to additional municipal commissioner Rubal Agarwal. The hospitals were informed that they needed to meet the specifications that were missing. They’re waiting for the enforcement reports, which should arrive in the next two days. Hospitals that do not take corrective action over the next 10 days will receive a notice.
According to PMC deputy commissioner Rajendra Muthe, a meeting was held on Friday at which the fire department and officials from other departments were given orders to review fire safety norms and hospital compliance records.
Private hospitals are required to perform fire safety audits and send reports to the department, according to Prashant Ranpise, chief fire officer at PMC. A recent audit of civic-run hospitals was completed. He went on to state that he had received some feedback.
Every hospital should undergo a thorough and time-bound audit, as per health activist Abhijit More. To do so, the fire department would need sufficient personnel, technical assistance, and expertise, he added.
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