Many hospitals, educational institutions and function halls failed to install fire safety equipment in Srikakulam district in spite of repeated notices from the A.P. Fire Services department, according to its officials.
The department which conducted a series of inspections for one month would be filing cases in the court of law as a majority of the institutions failed to give reply to their notices.
Srikakulam District Fire Officer Ch. Kripavaram and Additional District Fire Officer B.J.D.S. Prasanth, who conducted the inspections, found that safety was ignored in some reputed hospitals which were always packed with patients.
Many educational institutions which ran in apartments ignored safety norms, putting the lives of kids and staff in peril.
The same was the condition in many function halls.
Norms
Proper storage of water, sand, extinguishers and fire alarms should be maintained on the premises.
The functioning of the fire safety equipment should be checked regularly and thoroughly to save lives during an emergency.
However, only a few institutions took care of the norms, they said.
“We issued notices to 16 function halls, nine hospitals and two educational institutions. As there was no response from them, we decided to file cases in the court under Sections 31-22 of the A.P. Fire Services Act-1999,” according to Mr. Krupavaram.
Private gatherings
According to him, the department decided to act tough on private functions and meetings organised without proper safety norms. “As per the rules, the organisers have to pay ₹15,000 to the government in the form of challan for keeping fire tenders ready and taking other preventive steps. Recently, the organisers reportedly ignored the safety norms while conducting Koti Deepotsavam event where fire had spread due to heavy wind. Fortunately, none was hurt in the incident at the NTR Municipal Grounds,” he said.
“Precautions have to be followed strictly to avoid mishaps whenever there is a major congregation or meeting. The department is always ready to help the organisers if user charges are paid to the government,” said Mr.Kripavaram.
