Lucknow:
In response to the April 14 fire at Lokbandhu Rajnarayan Combined Hospital in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Thursday ordered the implementation of comprehensive fire safety recommendations across all government hospitals in the state.
The incident, which triggered the emergency evacuation of nearly 200 patients, prompted immediate attention from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while Deputy CM Pathak conducted an on-site inspection the same day.
According to an official statement, the probe committee constituted after the incident has laid out a detailed roadmap to prevent such emergencies in future. The committee was led by the Director General of Medical and Health Services and submitted its recommendations after inspecting the site and reviewing hospital safety protocols.
Key Recommendations
The panel has advised several urgent measures to bolster hospital fire safety:
- Installation of standardised fire-fighting systems.
- Provision for smoke ventilation, including natural ventilation and positive pressurisation in staircases and ramps.
- Ensuring evacuation routes are unobstructed, and removal of channel gates that could hinder emergency exits.
- Avoiding the enclosure of open areas with fibre sheets, tin sheds, or glass panels to preserve airflow and ventilation.
Further, the committee recommended the installation of:
- Fire alarms, smoke and heat detectors, and clearly marked exit signage.
- Resident accommodations for patient attendants, ensuring safer evacuation during emergencies.
Training and Compliance
To ensure preparedness, the report strongly urges:
- Regular fire exit mock drills with full staff participation.
- Proper training of staff to handle fire-fighting equipment.
- Strict adherence to central government fire safety guidelines and protocols.
It also emphasised safe electrical wiring practices, including:
- Avoiding spliced joints.
- Calculating the electrical load per circuit.
- Maintaining dual power sources to avoid overload or failure during emergencies.
Statewide Rollout Ordered
Following the report, Deputy CM Pathak directed the Principal Secretary of Medical and Health Services to immediately enforce these safety measures in all state-run medical institutions.
“Safety protocols cannot be compromised,” Pathak said, stressing the need for uniform enforcement of fire safety standards across all hospitals.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to patient safety, calling for systemic reforms to prevent repeat incidents.
The April 14 fire, while not resulting in casualties, has served as a wake-up call to upgrade hospital infrastructure and ensure stringent compliance with fire safety norms.
