Probe Reveals Major Structural, Electrical Flaws Behind Fires At Kozhikode Medical College

According to the report on Kozhikode Government Medical College fire, the UPS and battery systems were installed in cramped rooms with poor air circulation and no cooling system.

On May 5, Kerala Health Minister Veena George had said that a technical Inspection and a comprehensive audit have been ordered at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode following a smoke detection incident.

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A recent investigation into the fire incidents at the Kozhikode Government Medical College has revealed serious structural and electrical flaws, according to a report submitted by the PWD Electrical Inspectorate. The inspection identified 177 construction-related defects, including major lapses in the installation and maintenance of UPS systems, batteries, switches, and electrical panels. The report also highlighted that the fire damper, designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, was non-functional.

According to the report, the UPS and battery systems were installed in cramped rooms with poor air circulation, and no cooling system was in place to regulate equipment temperature. A fan coil unit was placed directly above the UPS, posing a risk of water leakage and a short circuit. The building in question, part of the PMSSY block, houses the emergency and surgical super-speciality departments of the Medical College Hospital and witnessed two fire incidents on May 2 and May 5 this year.

Notably, these flaws had already been flagged during inspections in 2023 and 2024 by the PWD Electrical Department, which had formally requested corrections. However, after the recent fires, officials found that none of the recommended rectifications had been implemented. A fresh report was filed after the incidents. It is also alleged that no restoration or corrective work has been initiated, even two months after the fire incidents, leaving the critical medical infrastructure non-operational.

Congress MP from Kozhikode MK Raghavan has written to the Prime Minister, demanding a comprehensive investigation into the repeated fire incidents and urging that the building's safety and electrical systems be audited and certified before any further use.

On May 5, Kerala Health Minister Veena George had said that a technical Inspection and a comprehensive audit have been ordered at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode following a smoke detection incident.

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)