PRAYAGRAJ: A fire at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) ward at Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi, on Friday late night claimed the lives of ten newborn babies, has come as an eye-opener for the police, fire, and district authorities. The fire department has launched a week-long special fire safety audit (Nov 16 to 22) at all the hospitals in the city, trans Ganga, and trans Yamuna pockets of the district. Chief Fire Officer (Prayagraj) RK Pandey told TOI that the department has roped in as many as eight teams, including Civil Lines, Naini, Handia, Meja, Phulpur, Soraon, Koraon, and Bara, to check the status of firefighting equipment and submit their reports at the earliest.
He added, “These teams will be checking installation, functional status, as well as upgradation of firefighting arrangements at around 140 hospitals in city areas and trans Ganga and Yamuna pockets." The officials have also asked owners and management of hospitals, including private and govt, to improve fire safety apparatus or notices will be served to them after inspection. On Saturday, a team of senior fire department officials inspected the status of firefighting apparatus at Sarojini Naidu Children Hospital (Prayagraj) and Maa Bhagwati Mother & Child Care Centre (Muir Road) and issued necessary guidelines.
The CFO, however, said, “Fire officials have also issued Dos and Don’ts to hospital staff during the inspection." Meanwhile, the CFO has asked teams to check the status of electric .