Nashik: The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), District Collector Office, Nashik, issued a directive mandating immediate fire and electrical safety audits for all Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in govt and private hospitals across the district.
The directive followed the fire incident at a govt hospital in Amravati that claimed lives of three newborn babies.
The circular said mandatory electrical and fire safety audits must be performed immediately for all ICUs, NICUs, PICUs, and CCUs if they have not undergone an audit in the past six months. A circular by Rohitkumar Rajput, resident deputy collector and chief executive officer of DDMA Nashik, stated that ICUs including Neonatal (NICU), Pediatric (PICU), and Cardiac (CCU) units were highly sensitive environments where preventive measures were critical to prevent fire hazards.
New Safety Audits Mandated for Hospitals
A recent directive mandates comprehensive fire, electrical, and lift safety audits across all hospital buildings. Key focus areas include fire hazard points such as main distribution boxes, wiring, transformers, generators, and oxygen generation plants.
The directive requires that any defects found during these audits be rectified within a specified timeframe. Hospitals must also report compliance and ensure that fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and fire alarm systems are fully operational.
Emergency exit routes must be unobstructed and clearly marked. Facilities are obligated to maintain a valid Fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC) and conduct regular mock drills to prepare staff for the safe evacuation of neonatal and critical patients in emergencies.
Copies of the directive have been distributed to the Divisional Commissioner, Nashik Municipal Corporation, District Collector, Zilla Parishad CEO, MUHS Registrar, and local fire officers to ensure immediate action and enforcement.