DEHRADUN: National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the death of a woman patient following a fire incident at a private hospital in Dehradun, raising serious concerns over patient safety and possible violation of human rights.
The Commission has issued notices to the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Dehradun, seeking a detailed report within two weeks on the tragic incident that occurred on May 20.
According to reports, a fire broke out in the hospital after an alleged short circuit in an air-conditioner unit triggered a blast, leading to panic inside the facility.
Fourteen patients were rescued and shifted to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. However, one female patient succumbed, while four others were later discharged after treatment.
Taking a serious view of the incident, the NHRC observed that if the contents of the media reports are true, the matter points towards a grave violation of human rights and possible lapses in fire safety mechanisms at the private healthcare facility.
The incident has once again exposed glaring questions over fire preparedness, emergency response systems and safety audits in hospitals operating in the hill state.
The tragedy has sparked concern among residents and rights activists, who are demanding strict accountability and mandatory fire safety compliance checks in all medical institutions.
Officials are expected to submit details regarding the cause of the fire, safety arrangements in the hospital, action taken against those responsible and the condition of the rescued patients.
The case assumes significance as Uttarakhand has witnessed several fire incidents in commercial and institutional buildings in recent years, often highlighting poor enforcement of safety norms.
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