Days after fire at Sion Hospital`s X-ray unit, the officials have concluded that poor maintenance of an air-conditioning (AC) unit was the preliminary cause of a recent explosion in the department of the OPD building in Mumbai.
Officials said that the AC unit had been running continuously in a small room with limited ventilation, which may have caused overheating and led to the incident.
They pointed out that while most hospital equipment is covered under Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC), maintenance alone may not be enough.
An official from the Mumbai Fire Brigade said that electrical systems also have a load-bearing capacity, which must be monitored regularly.
He added that large hospitals should assess whether their wiring and switches can handle increased load, especially as demand rises over time.
Need to review safety protocols
Speaking on the issue, Dr Shailesh Mohite said fire audits in civic hospitals are currently conducted once every five years.
He suggested that authorities may need to reconsider the frequency of such audits, although he noted that some accidents may still occur despite regular checks.
Spotlight on safety at civic hospitals
The incident has raised concerns about safety standards in major civic hospitals run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
On the occasion of World Health Day, a review of key hospitals highlighted their latest fire audit status and available safety equipment.
Fire Audit Status of Major Hospitals
– Sion Hospital: Last audit in August 2023; 530 fire extinguishers
– Nair Hospital: Last audit in January 2026; 666 fire extinguishers
– KEM Hospital: Last audit in August 2025; 1,600 fire extinguishers
– Cooper Hospital: Last audit during 2023–2024; 81 fire extinguishers
