Lok Sabha Question No. 704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Fire Incident in Jhansi Hospital
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Sudama Prasad

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA

## MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 704 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2025

## FIRE INCIDENT IN JHANSI HOSPITAL

## 704. SHRI SUDAMAPRASAD:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Union government has enquired from the State of Uttar Pradesh regarding the measures taken to ensure the safety in healthcare facilities for children in view of the recent fire incident at the Jhansi Hospital on 15th November, 2024;

(b) if so, the details of the enquiry and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has received any response from the State of Uttar Pradesh on the said tragedy and if so, the details of the response thereon;

(d) if not, whether any action has been taken in this regard and if so, the details of the action taken report on the same; and

(e) whether the Government is planning to bring any set of guidelines concerning hospitals dealing with children and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (d) : Public Health and Hospitals is a State subject and it is the primary responsibility of State/UT Governments to ensure adherence of healthcare facilities to safety norms including fire safety. The Directorate of Medical Education & Training, Uttar Pradesh has informed that it has issued advisory/instructions, from time to time, to the colleges/institutions under its control for conducting fire and electrical safety audits and to train the staff responsible for handling critical and sensitive installations during emergencises.

(e ): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India in consultation with various stakeholders had reviewed the position regarding fire and life safety in government hospitals and after extensive examination, guidelines on 'Fire and Life Safety' were framed and circulated to all States and UTs and Govt. hospitals across the country vide this Ministry's letter dated 28.09.2020.

In recent past, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued advisories, checklists to all States/UTs on the issue of fire safety in hospitals highlighting the need for:

i. Review and updation of fire prevention and response plans of all health facilities and training all healthcare staff on fire safety protocols, evacuation procedures, and use of fire - fighting equipment

ii. Conducting regular preventive fire safety drills including evacuation plans.

iii. Implementing and maintenance of appropriate fire prevention measures, such as regular and optimal preventive maintenance of electrical circuits and systems.

iv. Installation and optimum maintenance of fire detection and suppression systems, including smoke alarms, fire extinguishers with regular check on expiry date, sprinklers etc.

All States/UTs have also been urged to constitute district level committees headed by District Collectors comprising of relevant officials from health, fire services and public works departments to undertake physical inspection of health facilities and take suitable actions against the defaulters, as deemed necessary under the law.

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