Fire safety fail: Delhi Police HQ, two govt hospitals denied safety certificates

Indian Express

14-06-2025

Pointing out shortcomings and non-compliance with key fire safety norms, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) has denied fire safety certificates (FSCs) to the Delhi Police Headquarters and two government hospitals — Lok Nayak and Dr BR Ambedkar hospitals — officials said Friday.
In its official communication to the police headquarters and the two healthcare facilities, the DFS stated that the deficiencies were observed during inspections conducted by its officers in May and June. The department added that renewal of the FSC cannot be considered until the shortcomings are rectified.
The 17-storey Delhi Police HQ on Jai Singh Road had applied for FSC renewal on April 21.
Following a joint inspection with Delhi Police personnel on May 30, the DFS identified at least four critical violations.
'Fire-check door has been replaced by a normal glass door on 17th floor; door closers found removed from some fire-check doors, which makes pressurisation ineffective; pressurisation (system) in lift lobby also found removed on 17th floor,' according to the communication sent to the headquarters on June 5.
It also stated that there is a reception desk in the lift lobby area, which is not allowed.
In the letter to Lok Nayak Hospital dated May 30, the DFS stated that during their visit, officials found several shortcomings in the Casualty OPD, Surgical Block, Ortho Block, and New Special Wards.
It was stated that one staircase in the Surgical Block was blocked by waste items/ materials, which could pose as an obstacle during the evacuation of occupants/patients in the event of an emergency.
In the Ortho Block, a six-metre road all around the building for fire tender movement was found encroached by parking, sheds, and tree branches.
In the New Special Ward, the DFS found that the lift fireman switch was non-functional, the door closer was removed from some fire-check doors, and hoses and branches were missing in some hydrant boxes.
In a letter dated June 11, the DFS also denied FSC renewal to Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini's Sector 6. This comes after a site inspection on May 24 revealed continued non-compliance with previously stipulated safety conditions.
The DFS letter cited several major shortcomings: alternate exits on all floors of the ward block were found permanently locked and obstructed with storage material and condemned items; sprinklers were missing across the central block; and the fire control room was found to be disorganised and poorly managed.
Despite the hospital having over 500 beds, no fire safety officer had been appointed as required by fire safety regulations, the letter mentioned.
Additionally, the manual fire alarm system was either absent or non-functional in several parts of the hospital, raising serious concerns about the facility's preparedness in the event of a fire emergency.
The hospital had previously been issued an FSC in March 2022, which has now been revoked due to continued non-compliance. 'The hospital has not yet complied with condition no. 8 of the previous FSC… and your request for renewal of FSC is rejected under sub-rule (3),' Chief Fire Officer Virendra Singh stated in the letter.
(with PTI inputs)