Alarmed by the devastating fire at the AMRI Hospital in neighbouring Kolkata, which claimed 93 lives, the Assam government has decided to conduct a fresh fire-safety audit in all hospitals, educational institutions, hotels and residential apartment buildings across the state.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday informed that the government had taken serious view of the recent hospital fire in Kolkata and decided to tread with caution to prevent occurrence of similar incidents in the state. "We have decided and issued necessary instructions to concerned agencies to carry out fresh fire safety audit in all government and
private hospitals, educational institutions, hotels and apartment buildings in Guwahati and other parts of the state to find if fire safety measures are taken," Gogoi said.
"We would ask establishments, if found lacking, to take requisite fire safety measures within a stipulated period. In case of establishments where there is no proper fire safety apparatus in place, temporary closure notice will be served," Gogoi said.
The hospitals in Assam are required to get prior permission under Assam Hospital Establishment Act before setting up. The Act prescribes fire safety measures to be undertaken by the hospitals.