INIDA: How Hospital Had Thrown Fire Rulebook Out Of Its Window. I Blame Government Building Inspectors For This Tragedy! Hospital Should Have Been Up To Code Or Shut Down! This Could Have Been PREVENTED!

Indian Express

How hospital had thrown fire rulebook out of its window

written by Staff

Saturday December 10, 2011

No map for an evacuation plan, no alternative exit route, no free carriageway for access to firetenders trying to reach the cluster of buildings, tinted glass window panes that were sealed and could not be opened; fire alarms, smoke detectors and sprinklers all on the blink, water hydrant that didn’t work — the list of fire violations at AMRI goes on and on.

Authorities have confirmed that a preliminary examination of the hospital shows that these are among the “worst cases of violations of safety norms by a super-specialty hospital anywhere in the city.”

Dipak Sarkar, a deputy director of the West Bengal Fire Services, handed over the first complaint to Lake Police Station in Kolkata under which AMRI falls. The FIR has alleged “gross violation of fire safety norms and gross negligence.” Sources said the state Health Department is likely to lodge an FIR against the hospital authorities too.