Only 329 of 8,728 hospitals in K'taka meet fire safety standards, raising safety concerns
Bengaluru: A startling revelation has come to light as only 329 of the 8,728 registered government and private hospitals in Karnataka comply with mandated fire safety standards, sparking serious questions about the safety of patients and staff.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, responding to a question by Legislative Council member Dhananjay Sarji, disclosed that merely 14 out of 2,878 government hospitals and 315 of 5,850 private hospitals have implemented the required fire safety measures, according to a report by The New Indian Express published on Tuesday.
As per the National Building Code, all hospitals in the state are required to adopt uniform fire safety protocols. However, the vast majority have yet to meet these standards. In 2024 alone, three hospitals reported fire-related incidents, prompting a special meeting to address the issue, which previously had not received adequate attention.
The assessment revealed that 2,864 government hospitals are currently non-compliant with fire safety regulations. Gundu Rao estimated that achieving fire safety clearance for all government hospitals would cost approximately Rs 550 crore.
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Dalai Lama says Grammy win reflects shared responsibility, not personal achievement
Dharamshala (PTI): Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Monday said his Grammy Award win was not a personal achievement but a recognition of a shared universal responsibility.
The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, won his first Grammy in the category of best audio book, narration, and storytelling recording for his spoken-word album, Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, at the 68th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
He edged out other nominees, including Kathy Garver for Elvis Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story, Trevor Noah for Into The Uncut Grass, Ketanji Brown Jackson for Lovely One: A Memoir and Fab Morvan for You Know It's True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli.
Reacting to the prestigious international recognition, the Dalai Lama expressed gratitude and humility, saying he did not view the award as a personal achievement.
"I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility. I don't see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility," the Dalai Lama said.
"I firmly believe that peace, compassion, care for our environment, and an understanding of the oneness of humanity are essential for the collective well-being of all eight billion human beings. I am grateful that this Grammy recognition can help spread these messages more widely," he said.
