IEP Chandigarh October 25

Around two weeks after a major fire broke out at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER’s) Nehru block, necessitating the evacuation of over 400 patients on the intervening night of October 9/10 and another fire incident that happened in Advanced Eye Centre on October 16, the committee comprising 14 members headed by acting Dean Academics Naresh Panda has attributed the cause of recent fires to batteries, particularly UPS batteries. The committee has additionally pinpointed several specific areas within the hospital premises where UPS batteries could potentially contribute to major fire incidents.

Interacting with the media persons, PGIMER director Dr Vivek Lal said that the Committee has recommended plethora of measures for fire-safety including continuous & comprehensive upgradation of systems. The entire upkeep of the UPS battery systems backup has been handed over to the biomedical division and UPS batteries being identified as the hot-spot, are being shifted from the premises to safer places or at the edge of the buildings so that the smoke goes out in case of fire. Most of the work in this regard has been initiated, he added.