AIIMS building on fire had no 'NOC’
By Bhartendu Sharma Published on 18 Aug 2019 12:54 PM GMT
New Delhi: A day after a major fire broke out in one of the blocks of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS); some shocking details have come to the fore. The building did not have a NOC.
According to top sources in the fire department, “There was no NOC taken for the teaching block in which fire broke out. Every three years, the NOC certificate has to be renewed, but, in this case, no NOC was taken. The major problem we faced is that it is a high-rise building and there should be a mandatory six-metre road, but it was not there because of which our big fire engines struggled to reach near the building." The road was blocked from all sides and the fire spread to the fifth floor. The construction also has flaws, they added
The actual reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained and a committee is expected to be set up by the fire department to look into the matter.
According to the Delhi police, a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against unknown persons over the alleged negligence which led to the fire.
AIIMS administration has also initiated an internal enquiry to look into the cause of the fire.
Meanwhile, chairperson for media and protocol division, AIIMS, Aarti Vij in a statement released said, “AIIMS has a regular fire prevention system. We have fire personnel deployed round the clock. The fire fighting safety systems are regularly tested, including the clearance of fire exits and corridors. Awareness about the use of firefighting systems is conducted regularly for the staff.”
On Sunday morning, Union minister for health and family welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan, reviewed the situation at AIIMS along with the director AIIMS and senior faculty member.
The emergency departments have resumed. “The fire which is suspected to have started from the microbiology laboratory area has affected some laboratories and office areas. The hospital area has not been affected by the fire and there has been no casualty. The hospital along with the emergency department and emergency laboratories is fully functional,” read the AIIMS statement released on Sunday.
