Pune: A senior fire officer from Maharashtra’S Ahmednagar The civic body on Sunday claimed the hospital, where 11 COVID-19 patients died in a massive fire, lacked various fire safety measures suggested by them. Officials said a seven-member committee constituted to probe the incident is likely to submit a preliminary report by Monday, which will mention the probable cause of the fire at the district civil hospital.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray There is a possibility of a virtual meeting with the officials of Ahmednagar Administration on this incident that happened in the hospital on Saturday.
Asked on what basis the investigation was being conducted, Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation’s chief fire officer Shankar Misal told PTI that they are probing where the fire started, who noticed it first and immediately. What action was taken?
“On this basis we will arrive at a conclusion,” he said.
“Except for fire extinguishers, the other safety measures we suggested were not there,” the official said.
Asked if the fire could have been contained sooner if the facility had sprinklers, he said “yes”.
“Our recommendations, including that of sprinklers, were not implemented,” he said. He said that this is the first such incident in the hospital.
“There were oxygen pipes, electrical wires, medical equipment etc. But, probably, short circuit seems to be the cause of the fire. Our officials checked the CCTV footage and it was seen that smoke started coming out from the roof first. We are deeply concerned about the incident. Investigating.”
Officials said a seven-member team, comprising the divisional commissioner, government officials from the medical field, state fire services and precedent, is preparing a report on the incident.
“The report will have details on when the fire brigade team arrived, what were its observations, how many firefighters were there, what technology was used to put out the fire,” Misal said.
According to officials, the report will also contain the statements of witnesses and fire officials who first went to the spot after being informed about the fire.
Meanwhile, Ahmednagar Police is also probing the incident.
Ahmednagar Superintendent of Police Manoj Patil said, “We are conducting parallel investigation in the matter. It was a major incident, so the investigation is taking some time.”
Various political leaders including NCP chief Sharad Pawar As well as Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairman and Shiv Sena Leader Neelam Gorhe is likely to visit the hospital on Sunday.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray There is a possibility of a virtual meeting with the officials of Ahmednagar Administration on this incident that happened in the hospital on Saturday.
Asked on what basis the investigation was being conducted, Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation’s chief fire officer Shankar Misal told PTI that they are probing where the fire started, who noticed it first and immediately. What action was taken?
“On this basis we will arrive at a conclusion,” he said.
“Except for fire extinguishers, the other safety measures we suggested were not there,” the official said.
Asked if the fire could have been contained sooner if the facility had sprinklers, he said “yes”.
“Our recommendations, including that of sprinklers, were not implemented,” he said. He said that this is the first such incident in the hospital.
“There were oxygen pipes, electrical wires, medical equipment etc. But, probably, short circuit seems to be the cause of the fire. Our officials checked the CCTV footage and it was seen that smoke started coming out from the roof first. We are deeply concerned about the incident. Investigating.”
Officials said a seven-member team, comprising the divisional commissioner, government officials from the medical field, state fire services and precedent, is preparing a report on the incident.
“The report will have details on when the fire brigade team arrived, what were its observations, how many firefighters were there, what technology was used to put out the fire,” Misal said.
According to officials, the report will also contain the statements of witnesses and fire officials who first went to the spot after being informed about the fire.
Meanwhile, Ahmednagar Police is also probing the incident.
Ahmednagar Superintendent of Police Manoj Patil said, “We are conducting parallel investigation in the matter. It was a major incident, so the investigation is taking some time.”
Various political leaders including NCP chief Sharad Pawar As well as Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairman and Shiv Sena Leader Neelam Gorhe is likely to visit the hospital on Sunday.
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