During a teleconference with senior health department officials, Minister Narasimha underscored the urgent need to prevent such tragedies in Telangana
In the wake of a devastating fire at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh that claimed the lives of ten newborns, Telangana’s Health Minister C Damodar Raja Narasimha has directed government and private hospitals across the state to strengthen fire safety protocols. The incident has sparked widespread concerns about the adequacy of fire safety measures in hospitals nationwide.
During a teleconference with senior health department officials, Minister Narasimha underscored the urgent need to prevent such tragedies in Telangana. He announced the formation of ten specialised teams to inspect fire safety measures in major healthcare institutions, including Gandhi Hospital, Osmania Hospital, Niloufer Hospital, and MGM Hospital.
The inspections will focus on evaluating the functionality of firefighting equipment and verifying the preparedness of hospitals to handle emergencies. Highlighting the significance of these measures, the minister said, *“Our priority is to ensure the safety of patients and hospital staff. This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of robust fire safety protocols.”*
To bolster emergency readiness, Narasimha also instructed hospitals to provide comprehensive fire safety training to security personnel and staff. Additionally, he emphasised the need for regular mock drills to familiarise employees with emergency procedures and improve response times in critical situations.
The directive represents a proactive step by Telangana’s government to address potential safety vulnerabilities in healthcare facilities, aiming to ensure that patients and staff are protected from similar incidents. The inspections and subsequent reforms are expected to raise fire safety standards across hospitals in the state.
