The fire department in Jamshedpur will conduct a safety audit of healthcare establishments and hotels across the city following recent fire incidents in New Delhi and Muzaffarpur, Bihar, earlier this week. The exercise will inspect fire safety measures at government hospitals, health centres, private nursing homes, and hotels.
Mandatory Fire Safety NOC
Ram Pravesh Ojha, the in-charge of Golmuri fire station, stated, "Every hospital, nursing home, and hotel must compulsorily obtain a fire safety no-objection certificate (NOC). Non-compliance with these rules will attract penal action."
Survey Schedule and Coordination
Fire safety officials said the survey is scheduled to commence on Friday, though it may be pushed to next week if coordination issues arise. The Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) will coordinate with the fire department for the exercise. JNAC deputy municipal commissioner Krishna Kumar said random inspections will be conducted under the Jharkhand Municipal Act to verify adherence to fire safety protocols.
"All parameters pertaining to the fire safety NOC will be examined, and notices will be served to operators who fail to comply with the provisions," Kumar added.
Current Status of NOC Compliance
More than 40 healthcare centres, including 10 major hospitals, operate within the jurisdiction of JNAC. Officials said only about two dozen centres, including all major hospitals, have valid NOCs and regularly follow guidelines, while several nursing homes have lapsed certificates that must be renewed. "The NOC must be renewed mandatorily every year, and failure to do so will invite strict action," a fire control official said.
There are over 80 hotels in JNAC limits. Of them, NOC renewals of around 60 per cent are pending. Fire department data shows 88 fire incidents were reported between January and June this year, leading to losses to the tune of Rs 1 crore.
Recent Fire Incident Highlights Challenges
On May 29, a fire broke out at a sweet shop warehouse in Jugsalai. Fire engines struggled to make their way through narrow lanes. Eventually, firefighters deployed hoses from rooftops to douse the flames. Manoj Mishra, a resident, said, "Several hotels and nursing homes operate out of these multi-storeyed buildings. The district administration should take decisive action to ensure full compliance."
