NEW DELHI: Delhi hospitals’ fire safety under scrutiny after tragic Baby Care Hospital incident; surge in fire incidents prompts urgent action.
The tragic death of seven children at a Baby Care Hospital in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar area has raised concern about the fire safety of hospitals in the city. Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials believe that the cause of the fire could have been a short circuit; however, the investigation revealed that the hospital had blocked the second exit and the fire equipment was not in working condition.
Atul Garg, DFS director, told The Sunday Guardian that the delay in raising the alarm at DFS has resulted in the fire becoming more violent. He added that about a 30-minute delay was there to calling firefighters, which worsened the situation further. According to DFS, fire has claimed 55 lives and injured more than 300 people in the national capital so far this year, representing an increase of 32% in fire-related calls.
As temperatures soar in the national capital, Delhi is grappling with an alarming surge in fire-related incidents. The year 2024 has witnessed an alarming surge in fire incidents, surpassing records from the past decade. With over 8,000 fire calls reported until May, According to Delhi Fire Services (DFS), on Wednesday, May 29, they received the highest number of calls related to fire in 24 hours. DFS received 220 calls, which is the highest number in the last 10 years. According to Atul Garg, Director of DFS, the heatwave in Delhi last week has resulted in a surge in fire calls. He added We are witnessing fires due to the heating up of electrical appliances, resulting in a short circuit causing fire.
Saurabh Bhardwaj, Delhi Health Minister, has ordered a fire audit in the hospitals. However, according to fire officials, they have yet to receive official communication from the state government.
According to official data, DFS has issued fire-NOC (no-objection certificates) to 196 hospitals, which is way less than the registered hospitals in the city. The primary purpose of a fire NOC is to ensure that a building or premises adhere to fire safety norms. It certifies that the structure has adequate fire prevention measures, firefighting equipment, and evacuation plans in place. There are about 30 Delhi government-run hospitals, while 12 MCD-run hospitals and DFS regularly do fire audits of these hospitals, and private hospitals need to apply for NOC. The fire audit of government buildings is done by DFS, while private buildings need to apply for NOC. However, there are no such strict laws for having a compulsory fire NOC. This has led many low-run businesses to bypass the fire safety norm.
If we take into account the previous deadly fire incidents in Delhi, many such buildings did not hold fire NOCs, and they bypassed the fire safety norms. According to the rule All buildings, including residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional structures, need to obtain a fire NOC. Hospitals, schools, hotels, malls, offices, and other public places fall under this requirement, but many still lack these safety audits.
After each incident, Delhi Police filed FIRs, made arrests, and filed chargesheets against the responsible parties. However, the deterrent effect has been minimal, and fire continues to claim lives. For instance, in the case of the Arpit Hotel fire in Karol Bagh, the hotel owners were charged with offences including culpable homicide and destruction of evidence. Yet, slow trials and bail granted to the accused hindered justice. Similarly, the Bawana factory fire led to arrests, but subsequent bail allowed the accused to continue operating another firecracker factory in Haryana.
Unauthorised colonies and industrial areas in Delhi have become virtual tinderboxes due to rampant violations of fire safety norms. These fire incidents underscore the urgent need for proactive measures, stringent enforcement, and a collective commitment to prevent further tragedies. The city must learn from its past mistakes and prioritize fire safety to protect lives and property.