20210707 63 Covid patients relocated following minor fire in Kanyakumari
India Jul 07 2021 “Building” “Hospitals”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
63 Covid patients relocated following minor fire in Kanyakumari
Updated: 2021-07-07
KANYAKUMARI: Sixty-three Covid patients were relocated to other wards after a fire broke out in the main block of the Kanyakumari Government Medical College Hospital on Wednesday night.
The fire that was noticed at 7.50 pm was brought under control in about 10 minutes with a fire tender stationed at the hospital for the oxygen plant. Three more fire tenders from
Nagercoil and Colachel fire stations were diverted to the hospital but the fire was brought under control by the first tender and firefighters by 7.59 pm.
Tense moments prevailed as patients took to their heels when smoke emanated from a room on the ground floor.
District fire officer B Saravanababu told TOI that the main block is a ground plus four- storey structure. “The fire broke out in a room where waste items like empty cardboard boxes, damaged cots and others were stored in an improper manner and under unsafe conditions. The cause of the fire is under investigation,” he said.
There were 150 patients in the Covid-19 ward and general ward. Preliminary inquiries revealed that patients had not suffered breathing difficulties. However, the Covid-19 patients were relocated to other empty wards as a precautionary measure.
Police and fire and rescue services personnel were investigating the cause of the blaze. An inquiry was also being carried out by the hospital with the staff members and others who were present when the fire broke out.
Web Source: The Times of India