Telangana puts hospitals under fire safety radar amid nationwide blaze concerns

Hospitals across Telangana are undergoing an extensive round of fire safety audits, with authorities fanning out across the State to inspect hundreds of healthcare facilities each day as part of a government-led enforcement drive.

The exercise, which began on Friday, coincides with a spate of fatal fires reported from different parts of India and is part of the State’s 99-day action plan launched on March 6 to strengthen fire safety compliance in high-risk buildings.

Senior officials told The Hindu that the inspections are being carried out simultaneously by all 145 fire stations, each tasked with auditing at least one building per day. Over a period of 10 to 12 days designated for healthcare facilities, between 1,400 and 1,600 government and private hospital buildings will be covered.

The audits are examining whether hospitals comply with prescribed fire safety norms, including possession and renewal of fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs), the installation and working condition of fire-fighting systems, and overall preparedness to handle emergencies. Teams are also identifying gaps and educating hospital staff on the proper use of safety equipment.

Hospitals found with serious lapses may face denial of NOC renewals and prosecution under the Telangana Fire Service Act, 1999, while those with minor deficiencies will be given time-bound directions for rectification.

Each inspection typically takes between two and three hours, depending on the height and complexity of the building and covers high risk units including Intensive Care Units (ICU), Neonatal ICU (NICU), operating theatres and medical gas storage rooms among others. Key fire protection infrastructure that must be available include automated sprinklers, smoke detectors and fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers and accessible emergency exits.

Officials pointed to recurring violations in hospitals, including the use of basements to accommodate patients, unsafe storage of oxygen cylinders in enclosed spaces such as cellars, and excessive electrical loads that increase the risk of short circuits. These concerns have gained urgency amid recent incidents, including a fire at SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack earlier this week, where an electrical short circuit in an intensive care unit killed 12 patients.

The hospital audits follow the completion of fire safety checks in schools earlier this month and mark the second phase of the State’s broader enforcement plan. In the coming weeks, the focus will shift to industries, commercial establishments, and other hazardous and high-rise buildings, with the programme set to continue until June 12.