Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Chaubey mentioned that the current inspections focus on smaller facilities
In response to rising temperatures and the associated fire risks, the Noida district administration has initiated a comprehensive fire safety audit across all government and private hospitals. This proactive measure aims to ensure that healthcare facilities are adequately prepared to handle potential fire incidents during the peak summer months.
District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma ordered the assessment during a recent district health committee meeting. The decision was influenced by findings from a fire safety drive conducted in November, which revealed that several hospitals in Noida and Ghaziabad were operating without the mandatory fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs). Emphasising the urgency, Verma stated, “With temperatures rising every other day and heatwaves likely, it’s crucial that hospitals are fully prepared to tackle any kind of fire incident. Safety norms must be strictly followed.”
Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Chaubey mentioned that the current inspections focus on smaller facilities. “We have given the fire department a checklist of 22 points. It includes safety measures, such as proper exits, signage, exhaust mechanisms, ensuring fire safety equipment are in working condition, and no storage of fuel in the basement, among others,” he explained. Currently, 64 hospitals with up to 50 beds are under review, with plans to extend the audit to larger hospitals in the near future.
Beyond fire safety, the district administration has directed hospitals to ensure the availability of cold drinking water, shaded seating for patients, and uninterrupted power supply for cooling systems. Additionally, doctors will be assigned night duties at all community health centres, with surprise inspections planned to monitor their presence. Verma also emphasised the need for well-stocked medicine supplies and functional equipment across government healthcare facilities. He highlighted the importance of raising public awareness about heat-related illnesses during the summer.
Hospitals have also been instructed to actively participate in weekly Jan Arogya health fairs and to strengthen vaccination programmes in rural areas. Schools that do not cooperate with child immunisation efforts will face notices, and frontline health workers will be held accountable for any negligence.
This initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of residents during the challenging summer months.