Fire scare at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital

KOLKATA: A fire broke out at the emergency ward of Midnapore Medical College and Hospital on Sunday morning triggering panic among patients. No injury, however, has been reported in the incident.

Some patients spotted smoke billowing out from the operation theatre at the emergency ward of the hospital at around 11.30 am. The smoke soon spread to other portions of the floor. Many patients fled the spot as the area soon got covered with thick black smoke. The power supply was disconnected immediately to avert any untoward incident. The staff members tried to douse the flames before the fire tenders reached the spot.

The hospital staff acted promptly and evacuated the patients from the building. The staff members also tried to douse the flames with the firefighting mechanism installed inside the hospital. The operation theatre was filled with smoke. After being informed, fire tenders were pressed into action to extinguish the fire.

There was, however, no major damage due to the fire but panic broke out among the patients.

The hospital authorities claimed that the fire might have taken place due to an electrical short circuit. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Four fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames.

Hospital authorities have asked the Public Works Department (PWD) to submit a report on how and why the fire had taken place. A senior official of the hospital said all the patients were safely shifted to another building of the hospital after the fire broke out.

The firefighters brought the situation under control within an hour. Normal functions resumed at the emergency ward of the hospital. The preliminary investigation also suggests that an electrical short circuit might have caused the incident. The extent of the damage is yet to be ascertained.