Only one entrance, no other exit

TIRUPATI: No private hospital here has the fire safety mechanisms. All the private hospital managements constructed the buildings without the `No Objection Certificate’ from the municipal corporation fire authorities, said Tirupati station fire officer J Ramanaiah.When asked, deputy fire officer S Venkataiah said none of the hospitals took NOC from them. “As of now, we have issued notices to about 30 private hospitals to ensure fire safety measures within 30 days,” said.What is surprising is that even government hospitals, including SVR Ruia, maternity and TTD’s SVIMS, do not have proper fire safety mechanism.According to the health officials, there are about 700 private nursing homes in Chittoor district, of which about 300 are in Tirupati alone. Nearly all the hospitals have only one entrance and no emergency exit. Minimum fire fighting measures are also not provided.Besides hospitals, shopping malls, cinemas and multi-storied buildings in Tirupati too do not have any NOCs from the fire department.

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