NHRC asks for report of probe

Mumbai: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo moto cognisance and issued a notice to the chief secretary, calling for a detailed report, including the outcome of the probe into the fire incident at the Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) Kamgar Hospital at Marol in suburban Andheri in which eight people were killed.

The commission has also set up an enquiry for a detailed report within four weeks, including action taken against the guilty. The NHRC took suo moto cognisance of the incident over media reports that a massive fire engulfed the ESIS Hospital in Andheri (east), Mumbai, on Monday, killing eight people and injuring 177 others.

The NHRC said that it had observed that the possibility of negligence by the hospital administration could not be ruled out in the incident. Hence, a notice was issued to the chief secretary of the government of Maharashtra, calling for a detailed report, including the outcome of the probe reportedly mentioned.

The commission wanted to know if the building had a valid “No objection certificate” from the fire department and whether a fire audit had been conducted. A report from the Maharashtra DGP was also expected to intimate about the registration of a FIR, if any, and status thereof.

The commission issued a notice to the secretary of the Union ministry of labour and employment since the ESIS hospital comes under the latter’s jurisdiction.