Pune: YCMH, Aundh Uro Hospital Without Fire NOC as Safety Gaps Flagged; 485 of 750 Private Hospitals Also Lack NOC

Pimpri Chinchwad, 12th September 2026: Two major government hospitals in Pimpri Chinchwad — Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH) and the Aundh Uro District Hospital in Navi Sangvi — are yet to obtain a final fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the civic fire department, raising concerns over fire safety at facilities that cater to hundreds of patients every day.

YCMH has a capacity of around 700 beds and its outpatient department remains crowded. Despite this, the hospital has not obtained a fire NOC. The private Ruby L Care unit operating within the hospital, however, is understood to have a fire NOC.

The Aundh Uro District Hospital, with a capacity of around 450 beds, also does not have a fire NOC. A recent fire audit found deficiencies in its fire-safety arrangements.

“YCMH and Aundh Uro District Hospital have not yet obtained fire NOCs. They have informed us that they will complete the process and apply online shortly. Some deficiencies were found during the fire audit of Aundh Uro Hospital and the report will be submitted to the hospital administration,” said Venkatesh Durvas, deputy commissioner, fire department, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

The issue is not limited to government hospitals. Of around 750 private hospitals in the city, only 265 — about 35.3 per cent — have obtained fire NOCs. As many as 485 hospitals, or 64.7 per cent, are yet to obtain the mandatory certification.

Fire-safety systems such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, sprinklers, adequate water supply and emergency exits are particularly critical in hospitals, especially in ICUs and wards treating critically ill patients.

The lack of mandatory safety clearances has raised questions over enforcement. Recent hospital fires across the country have highlighted the risks. In May 2024, a fire at a newborn care hospital in Vivek Vihar, New Delhi, killed seven newborns after an oxygen cylinder explosion; the hospital’s fire NOC had also expired. In November 2024, a fire at the neonatal intensive care unit of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi killed 10 newborns. Other hospital fires in Gujarat and Nagpur have also resulted in deaths and injuries.

With a large number of hospitals still lacking fire NOCs, authorities face the task of ensuring compliance before a preventable fire turns into a major tragedy.