Goa’s premier institution for health and treatment, the 750bedded Goa Medical College and Hospital does not comply with fire safetyregulations
In a shocking disclosure, the State’s Fire and EmergencyServices Department revealed exclusively to The Goan that it had served tworeminders to the GMC to conform to fire safety norms.
A vital life-saving suggestion that the State’s premierhealth institution chose to ignore.
In a letter dated June 22 this year, Goa Fire and EmergencyDepartment, chief Ashok Menon wrote to GMC’s Dean Dr V N Jindal, that the FireService “will not be responsible for any eventuality occurring due to fire andany loss of life and property due to non “ availability of fire protectionmeasures”.
Fire hydrants and landing valves in the old block of thehospital have not been maintained. Every floor of the building does not havethe fire exit sign. The gas-based detection cum suppression system does notfunction, as recently there were complaints of gas leakage. Inflammablesubstances like 30 KL of furnace oil and Spirit are stored at the hospitalpremises, which can lead to fire incidents.
While the new block has got wet risers, landing valves andhose reel hydrants but many of these do not function. Even the fire alarmsystem in the new block is non “ functional and is in dilapidated condition.
GMC has been inspected by fire department almost five timesin the past year and four reminders have been sent to them. Yet it has failedto execute safety measures.
The security of over 1500 patients who visit GMC on dailybasis is at stake.
GMC is the backbone of the health system in the State, wherethousands of people come for medical help daily. Over 1500 people fromdifferent parts of Goa and even bordering areas of Maharashtra and Karnatakavisit the premier hospital.
“We had inspected GMC and recommended them to upgrade theirfire and safety measures,” said Ashok Menon, Director of Directorate of Fireand Emergency.
“We cannot penalize them for not having a system in place.We can train their people on how to control fire in emergency situation only ifthe systems are in place,” Menon added.
The GMC Dean Dr V N Jindal said: “We have fire hydrantssystem in place. It is also connected to the overhead water tank. Recently thefire department had conducted an inspection and made some recommendations,which will be implemented.”
His claims are not convincing, as even the recentlycommissioned Yatri Niwas lacks fire safety measures. Fire extinguishers andalarm system is not fully operational at the Niwas.
The Goan’s queries to the Dean’s office however, sent theGMC into a tizzy, as PWD officials hurriedly began an inspection to review itsfire safety preparedness.
