20160322 India Fire engulfs Ludhiana cancer hosp
India Mar 21 2016 “Hospitals”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire engulfs Ludhiana cancer hosp
Updated: 2016-03-22-03:08
A major fire broke out at Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Hospital during the wee hours on Monday.
The blaze started at the store of a laboratory situated in the basement of the main building. The chemicals stored there caught fire, which engulfed the whole laboratory, damaging machinery and goods. The hospital authorities said there was a blast around 1.15am after the chemicals caught fire.
They, however, said the fire, which may have started around 12.30am, was restricted to basement only and a major tragedy was averted as the fire safety department took out three LPG cylinders.
The smoke emanating out of basement started troubling patients, who were then moved to the nursing hospital on the premises. Medical director Dr V K Kaushal said around 132 patients were moved from the building and three serious patients who were on ventilator were immediately shifted to Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).
About the loss, he said nothing was certain as yet and a team of surveyors would visit and ascertain the damages.
There was no casualty. The hospital started work around 9am and patients have been brought back, he added.
Meanwhile, fire safety officer Rajinder Sharma said the reason for the incident was not clear. “It seems there was a leakage in one of the drums containing chemicals and it caught fire after a short-circuit.
Ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot, but only three to four were employed. It took around eight hours to douse the flames as firemen were dealing with chemicals and had to use dry foam to control it,” he added.
Web Source: THE TIMES OF INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/Fire-engulfs-Ludhiana-cancer-hosp/articleshow/51504306.cms