TNN | Apr 10, 2018, 12:28 IST
VIJAYAWADA: Vijayawada Government General Hospital(GGH) is flouting a host of fire safety rules.
Despite guidelines from the fire department to maintain fire extinguishers properly officials of Vijayawada Government General Hospital (GGH) are neglecting safety of thousands of patients.
As many as 2,000 outpatients and 300 inpatients visit Vijayawada GGH on a daily basis. All these persons are at risk as the government has failed to replace old fire extinguishers. Majority of the fire extinguishers are malfunctioning with low pressure levels.
TOI on October 30, 2017 highlighted the poor fire safety standards of GGH. The TOI report to light that fire extinguishers had expired months ago but the GGH officials had tampered with the expiration dates.
“Fire accidents are the most dangerous of all of mishaps. Vijayawada GGH is ignoring basic safety norms. No fire drill is performed there. Fire extinguishers have become a decorative items,” alleged CPI city secretary Donepudi Shankar.
“The health department is least bothered about the safety of patients in GGH. Officials who try to beautify GGH with LED lights and greenery have ignored fire extinguishers,” said MV Anjaneyulu, secretary of Tax Payers Association.
Interestingly, a number of reports have surfaced where the fire department has denied permission to private hospitals as safety norms were not followed. Referring to this, Anjaneyulu said, “What does the government have to say about Vijayawada GGH not following fire norms?”
When contacted, GGH officials refused to comment.
