THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Human Rights Commission has instructed the government to open a mini fire station at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.
The station should have at least two fire engines, the commission said in an order on Wednesday. Commission member P Mohanadas, hearing a plea by human rights activist P K Raju, issued the instructions to the Chief Secretary and the Health Secretary. Earlier, the commission had demanded a report on this issue from the State Police Chief.
The report says that a fire outbreak on the campus could lead to massive destruction, the commission said.
The medical college campus also houses the Regional Cancer Centre, the Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and technology (SCTIMST), laboratories and the SAT Hospital. The Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies is also situated on this sprawling campus. Moreover, several hotels, restaurants, lodges and medical stores are situated on either side of the medical college campus gates, the commission noted.
Thousands of people - patients and their bystanders and students - visit the campus on a daily basis, the report says according to the commission. The police report also goes on to say that a decision on establishing a fire station in the campus should be taken at the government-level. In his complaint, Raju said it is very difficult for fire tenders to access the medical campus in the event of a major fire.
Meanwhile, the government proposals for mini stations in the state capital does not include the medical college campus. Mini fire stations are proposed near the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the Secretariat and Chalai market. The Padmanabhaswamy temple and the Secretariat were chosen on account of the security angle and Chalai, for its vulnerability to fire mishaps.