The inferno at the AMRI hospital that took 93 lives could have been averted had the fire department not "trusted" an affidavit given by the hospital authorities of clearing the basement of combustible material within three months, a senior minister indicated.
The inferno at the AMRI hospital that took 93 lives could have been averted had the fire department not "trusted" an affidavit given by the hospital authorities of clearing the basement of combustible material within three months, a senior minister indicated Monday.
The fire department had months back inspected the Advanced Medicare & Research Institute (AMRI) hospital in South Kolkata’s Dhakuria, after it applied for a no objection certificate (NOC).
“We had made an inspection and found some objectionable material there which we had notified them to remove,” Fire Services and Disaster Management Minister Javed Khan told IANS.
“The NOC was given only after they gave an undertaking that they would remove the things within three months,” Khan said.
However, though the undertaking on court paper was given Sep 5, the authorities failed to check whether the hospital had kept its commitment.
“When one gives an undertaking on an authorised affidavit then that should be believed or not? We had believed them that they will clear it off. But they hadn’t, and unfortunately the mishap happened. We were supposed to carry out an inspection, and then we would not have allowed them to continue,” Khan said.
He denied the department had acted irresponsibly by not confirming if the hospital had complied with the order. “They had given an affidavit, that too authorised by the court, and we had trusted it,” the minister replied when asked about his department officials not bothering to carry out an inspection after the 90-day period got over Dec 5.
The minister also said the team of experts constituted to carry out inspection of fire safety in various commercial buildings in the city has identified several building which have flouted norms and would be submitting a report soon.
“The expert team has made several inspections and identified several buildings violating the safety norms. Once the report is tabled we will decide the future course of action,” added Khan, refusing to name the buildings.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}