BANGALORE: Generally, Government hospitals are known for their compliance to fire safety regulations because these hospitals have appointed people specially to implement such measures.However, Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital needs immediate implementation of fire safety measures. If the outdated fire extinguishers are any indication, it seems that the officials have become oblivious about the need to replace with new ones. The validity of the fire extinguishers placed at various places on the premises expired on May 26 but no effort was made to replace these fire extinguishers. They were last refilled on May 25, 2010 and were due for refilling on May 26, 2011.The other problem at this hospital is that no one is adept in handling these equipment during emergencies. “I don’t know how to handle the fire extinguisher. These are kept here for more than a year,” says an employee of the hospital on condition of anonymity.It is quite surprising to see that there is no emergency exit on this six-floor hospital. No one wishes that there should be a fire accident at this hospital but the authorities have to take preventive measures.M C Bore Gowda, Assistant Engineer, who is looking after the maintenance of the hospital building, agrees that these fire extinguishers needed replacement. “We have already initiated measures to replace them with new ones. I am hopeful of completing the formalities for replacement of these fire extinguishers within a few days,” explains Gowda.Ask about the lack of emergency exits, Gowda says that a proposal has been sent to the Fire and Emergency Services for suggestions to make a provision for emergency exit. “We are thinking of creating an emergency exit on the lines of the ones in Visvesvaraya Towers since the construction of this building . The other building under construction will have emergency exit as per fire safety norms,” the official said.The scene is no different at Victoria Hospital. The Centenary Building inaugurated in May 2000 also needs immediate attention. The fire extinguishers are yet to be replaced even after five months of expiry date. These fire extinguishers were refilled on June 16, 2010 and were due for refilling on June 15, 2011. One can’t find any indication about the existence of an emergency exit here too. If any fire accident takes place, there is no provision for water on the premises since this building has no exclusive water line. The firemen have to depend on the water supply from other building, which is under construction.
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