Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Fire Safety Audits Expand to Hospitals Across West Bengal
Fire department teams have started checking hospitals to see if they are ready for a fire.
They look at alarms, sprinklers, exits and other safety equipment.
They also check whether there is enough water and whether staff know what to do.
Hospitals can be harder to evacuate than shops because some patients cannot walk or leave their beds.
The inspections began at private hospitals in south Calcutta and will also cover government hospitals.
Officials said the hospitals checked so far seemed prepared.
The checks will continue across the state, and the department will send each hospital a report.
The effort follows the deadly 2011 fire at AMRI Hospital, where 91 people died.
West Bengal's fire and emergency services department has expanded its ongoing safety audits to hospitals.
Teams inspected private hospitals in south Calcutta on Friday; officials said government and private healthcare institutes would be audited.
Inspections check exits, smoke detectors, hydrants, water supplies, sprinklers, fire doors, exhaust systems and dedicated response teams.
Officials said hospitals inspected so far appeared well prepared, and the audit drive will continue across the state.
The focus reflects the difficulty of evacuating patients who are critically ill or dependent on life-support systems.
- Who
- The state fire and emergency services department and hospitals across West Bengal.
- What
- A continuing fire-safety audit drive has expanded to hospitals.
- When
- Hospital inspections began on Friday; the article does not specify a date.
- Where
- Private hospitals in south Calcutta were inspected, with audits planned across the state.
- Why
- To assess hospitals’ fire systems and emergency readiness, including their ability to help patients who cannot evacuate independently.
- Inspections began
- Friday
- Hospitals covered
- Both private and government healthcare institutes
- Systems checked
- Exits, smoke detectors, hydrants, water supply, sprinklers, fire doors and exhaust systems
- Hospitals named
- Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria; Ruby General Hospital; Belle Vue Clinic; Woodland Hospitals
- Audit status
- Officials said hospitals visited so far appeared well prepared
- Next steps
- The audits will continue across the state, with reports sent to individual hospitals
- Previous tragedy
- A 2011 fire at AMRI Hospital, Dhakuria, killed 91 people