Jhansi tragedy puts spotlight on unsafe MCCH Anantnag

Anantnag, Nov 17: The recent tragic fire incident at Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi hospital has highlighted several shortcomings in fire safety at south Kashmir’s lone Maternity and Child Care Hospital (MCCH) in Anantnag.

The devastating fire at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi, on Friday night claimed the lives of 10 newborns and injured 17 others.

Preliminary investigations indicate the cause was an electric short circuit.

India Today report revealed that the NICU had expired fire extinguishers and malfunctioning safety alarms that delayed evacuation efforts.

MCCH Highly Vulnerable to Jhansi-like Incidents

The situation is similarly dire at Anantnag’s MCCH, the associated hospital of Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, which is located in the congested Sherbagh area.

Despite being declared unsafe by the Fire and Emergency Services back in 2014, the hospital lacks adequate fire safety mechanisms.

In the past two months, there have been two incidents of electrical short circuits in the NICU, though fortunately, these did not escalate.

“One incident occurred just last week,” a medico confirmed.

Following these alarming incidents, the hospital authorities have urgently appealed to the government to have fire safety measures in place.

“Yes we have already written to the government about the lack of safety measures at MCCH,” Principal GMC Anantnag, Dr Rukhsana Najeeb said.

She said that the college has allocated Rs 36 lakh to the Mechanical Engineering Department for the installation of fire service lifts and air conditioners at both the main hospital and MCCH.

However, an official said that installing fire extinguishers in MCCH is not feasible due to severe structural damage.

“The building has developed significant cracks and is at risk of collapse,” the official said.

The Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department declared the building unsafe over a decade ago.

Assistant Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Moin-ul-Islam told Greater Kashmir that comprehensive firefighting equipment cannot be installed due to the building’s poor condition.

“We had declared the building unsafe and suggested temporary inbuilt fire safety measures in our report until the facility could be relocated,” he said.

Past Fire Incidents

In 2015, after a fire partially damaged the Out-Patient Department (OPD) of MCCH, the facility was temporarily moved to the then district hospital premises at Janglat Mandi.

However, it was relocated to the unsafe building within a day due to political intervention.

Another fire incident was reported at the ticket counter of the facility in March 2022, wherein 12 people including two kids were injured.

The incident happened due to gas leakage.

Failed Relocation Attempts

In 2015, the government had announced plans to shift the facility to Rehamat-e-Alam Hospital at KP Road, earlier managed by a local trust.

Despite spending Rs 13 crore on constructing the top two floors, the plan was abandoned.

IIT Jammu’s safety assessment indicated the building did not meet post-2005 earthquake safety standards.

The institute recommended retrofitting and reinforcement of the vital beams of the older floors – ground and first floor constructed by the trust two decades ago.

It estimated the cost of approximately Rs 8 crore on it.

However, the proposal was shelved.

Government Assurances

Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Masood (Itoo) recently assured that the relocation of the MCCH would be prioritised.

“A committee will be formed, and we will explore all options to move the hospital to a safer location,” she said.

Medics remain deeply concerned about the lack of a proper fire safety system in the hospital.

“The NICU is particularly vulnerable due to the extensive use of electrical equipment, and the wooden ceilings make the wards even more susceptible,” a medic warned.

Another medic said that as the hospital is without a central heating system, the gas heaters were pressed into service at times during winter putting the patients, attendants, and staff at risk.

“A short circuit or gas leakage could lead to a catastrophe, and ordering probes after such incidents will not help,” he said.