SC directs states to carry out fire safety audit of dedicated Covid-19 hospitals

Covid-19 hospitals have been directed to take a NOC from the fire department within four weeks

A private security personnel stands at the entrance gate for Covid-19 patients outside Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad. Credit: AFP Photo

The Supreme Court on Friday directed all the states to carry out fire safety audit of dedicated Covid-19 hospitals across the country to prevent fire incidents in medical institutions.

The apex court also directed dedicated Covid-19 hospitals to take a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department within four weeks and said that failure to do so will invite punitive action.

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A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that those hospitals, whose fire NOC has expired, will have to get it renewed within four weeks.

The bench, also comprising justices R S Reddy and M R Shah, said that issue of political rallies and observance of Covid-19 guidelines will be looked into by the Election Commission.

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The apex court had earlier taken cognisance of a fire incident in a designated Covid-19 hospital in Gujarat's Rajkot in which several patients had died.

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