Guards acted as per fire norms, says security firm
December 12th, 2011 - 8:22 pm ICT by IANSKolkata, Dec 12 (IANS) Amid allegations that the arrogant guards’ refusal to let locals rescue trapped patients had led to the AMRI Hospital fire toll mount to 93, the security agency’s chief Monday said his staff worked according to the fire fighting norms, but could not open all exits due to noxious smoke.
“I have heard about these allegations. But I would like to say that the security guards followed the proper fire fighting norms which state that if a fire breaks out in a building, then the building should be immediately cordoned off so that no outsiders can enter except professional fire fighters,” said Debajit Choudhury, proprietor of NIS security agency.
NIS guards were involved in the security of the ill-fated Annexe 1 building of the AMRI Hospital, in South Kolkata’s Dhakuria.
The locals and relatives of the victims had complained that the security guards initially ignored the early fire alerts by the locals and had misbehaved with the youths who had come to rescue the patients.
D.Paul, father of a 12-year-old girld who died in the fire, said: “I was pleading with the security guards to allow some of us inside so that we could take out some patients, including my daughter. But they were adamant in not letting us in.”
“Neither the security guards were going inside nor were we allowed to go inside. They had even locked the gate of the staircase,” Paul said.
Local youth Babu Mandal said: “We tried to alert the guards but they abused us.”
“When the black smoke started coming out, we, along with some of the relatives, alerted the guards. They said they will take care of it and asked us to go out.”
Choudhury, however, said he could conduct a probe only if there was a specific complaint.
“If somebody makes a specific complaint against a guard, then I can surely investigate the matter. But the five security staff who were present at the hospital along with the maintenance staff had tried their best to douse the fire,” he said.
There were also allegations that the fire alarms had been switched off by the staff who were annoyed with the instruments going off every time there was a little smoke. More importantly, there have been accusations that some smokers among the staff and doctors swithed the alarms off so that they could enjoy their cigarettes and bidis in the wards.
But Choudhury could not confirm whether the fire alarms and sprinklers were working.
“I can’t confirm whether the security alarms worked or not. But I can say that security guards didn’t flee the spot. They did the fire fighting at the basement initially. They also opened some of the emergency exits but couldn’t open all the exits due to the noxious smoke,” he said.
- Survivors, relatives charge hospital with callousness - Dec 09, 2011
- We want state-run hospital in place of AMRI, say locals - Dec 19, 2011
- Fire at two health care facilities - Mar 21, 2012
- From black tragedy emerged many heroes - Dec 09, 2011
- Toll now 91, including two nurses, says AMRI - Dec 10, 2011
- Hospital fire: Kolkatans protest, Mamata orders judicial probe - Dec 11, 2011
- AMRI's Dhakuria unit suspends medical treatment - Dec 14, 2011
- Tension brews over smoke at city hospital - Mar 21, 2012
- Punish the guilty, Kolkata echoes in one voice - Dec 10, 2011
- Compensation paid to AMRI victims' kin - Jan 03, 2012
- A month on, AMRI victims' kin still fighting for justice - Jan 08, 2012
- My life under threat: whistleblower doctor in doping scandal - Jul 14, 2011
- Five days after fire, Tripura family still looking for man - Dec 14, 2011
- AMRI doctor recounts fire horror, says he saved eight - Dec 12, 2011
- Relatives say fire fighters came late, minister denies - Dec 09, 2011
Tags: allegations, annexe, girld, locals, maintenance staff, norms, noxious smoke, outsiders, professional fire fighters, proper fire, proprietor, relatives, security agency, security firm, security guards, security staff, staircase