Had there been regular audits of whether the levels of fire safety measures were in accordance with the prescribed norms and areas of weakness therein as pointed out by these audits duly addressed, perhaps the dislocation of indoor patients, damage to parts of the building and to the costly hospital equipment in Bones and Joint Hospital in Barzulla Srinagar due to recent outbreak of a fire incident would have been averted. The embarrassment, agony and fear undergone by the patients can well be imagined during the currency of the blaze as these patients, usually due to the reasons specific, otherwise have mobility constraints and cannot move without proper help. Moreover, the fire occurring during the night hours must have added to more problems in evacuating the patients. It is, however, a matter of great relief that no injury was caused to any patient.
Since the fire was later brought under control, the usual enquiry into the ”causes” ordered, it remains to be seen as to how the issue of fire safety audit has been dealt with by the Hospital administration. It is totally unacceptable that in places like Hospital Buildings where ailing people are undergoing treatment and remain frequented by attendants and medical personnel round the clock, the administration of these hospitals should be casual about fire safety measures and not have the same duly audited. We would like to know as to when was such audit conducted last in all the Government hospitals in the UT, especially in Kashmir region. Whether from the source of the fire in the Hospital concerned, there was any fire fighting mechanism in place and in working condition as a mandatory “First Hand” measure to douse it the moment it was noticed, too must be ascertained.
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