80 Lucknow hospitals face closure notice for fire safety violations after Jhansi tragedy

Following the tragic fire at Rani Lakshmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi that claimed the lives of 10 newborns, the Uttar Pradesh Fire Department has raised alarms about the fire safety standards in hospitals across the state. In response, authorities in Lucknow have issued closure notices to 80 hospitals for not complying with basic fire safety regulations. The hospitals have been found lacking in essential fire protection systems, which are critical to preventing fires and ensuring the safety of patients and staff. The closure notices were issued after repeated violations and failure to take corrective action.

Among the hospitals that received closure notices are some of the largest healthcare institutions in Lucknow, including King George’s Medical University (KGMU) and Balrampur Hospital, both of which serve thousands of patients every day. These institutions, despite their high patient volumes, were found to have inadequate fire safety measures. Authorities stated that inspections revealed the absence of basic fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and sprinkler systems. In many cases, fire exits were blocked or not up to code, posing a serious risk to those inside in the event of an emergency.

Chief Fire Officer Mangesh Kumar highlighted that over 200 hospitals in Lucknow do not meet fire safety standards. Inspections have uncovered numerous deficiencies in fire safety equipment and infrastructure across both public and private hospitals. Despite issuing multiple warnings over the years, the hospitals have not taken adequate steps to address the issues. Kumar added that many hospitals had submitted affidavits to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) claiming compliance with fire safety regulations, but there was no physical verification of these claims, allowing substandard facilities to continue operating without oversight.

Out of the 906 hospitals operating in Lucknow, only 301 have obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which is required to confirm compliance with fire safety regulations. This leaves more than 600 hospitals operating without proper certification or oversight, raising concerns about their preparedness for emergencies. Many of these hospitals, both public and private, have been operating without any major improvements to their fire safety infrastructure for years, despite being aware of the risks posed by inadequate safety measures.

Notably, some government hospitals have also been found to be in violation of fire safety regulations. At KGMU’s Shatabdi building, which is relatively new, inspections revealed that the staircases and exits were narrower than required by fire safety norms. Additionally, KGMU's older buildings, including its main medical and trauma centers, were found to have non-functional lifts, outdated fire alarms, and blocked exit routes. Balrampur Hospital, another major government-run facility, was found to lack a centralized fire fighting system across its various departments. Civil Hospital, one of the oldest hospitals in the city, was flagged for having no fire fighting equipment in its old outpatient building, and the emergency building’s exit was found to be non-compliant with safety standards.

The lack of compliance is not a new issue. Multiple fire incidents have occurred in Lucknow’s hospitals over the past few years. Notable incidents include fires at Jhallkari Bai Hospital in 2016 and 2019, KGMU in 2020, and SGPGI in December 2023, among others. These incidents have resulted in injuries and forced evacuations, highlighting the dangerous conditions in many hospitals. The repeated occurrence of such fires emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive inspections and strict enforcement of fire safety regulations in all healthcare facilities. The Uttar Pradesh Fire Department has emphasized the need for hospitals to urgently address these fire safety shortcomings and implement measures such as proper fire exits, fire suppression systems, and regular safety drills.