20200421 Fire at PMCH sparks panic, no casualties
India Nov 09 2020 “Building” “Hospitals”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire at PMCH sparks panic, no casualties
Updated: 2020–04–22
Smoke billows out of the old emergency building of Patna Medical College and Hospital after the fire on Tuesday
Fire broke out on the top floor of the old emergency building of the Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) on Tuesday. Around 65 patients were present in the wards, some of whom were temporarily shifted to an adjoining building as a precautionary measure. Dark smoke billowing from the top floor of the building led to chaos for some time as social distancing norms went for a toss with people crowding around trying to figure out a way to safety in case the fire spread. But soon hospital authorities managed to control the situation by dispersing the crowd, some of whom were making videos, and making them observe social distancing norms.
Hospital superintendent Dr Bimal Karak said, “The fire appeared to be caused by a short circuit due to which synthetic sheets used for roofing the top floor caught fire. However, a three member committee has been constituted to inquire into the incident and report within three days. Initially some patients admitted in the wards in that building were shifted to an adjoining building for safety reasons, but soon they were brought back to their beds.Though there was no untoward incident, the fire at the state’s largest hospital where hundreds come every day, caused panic among patients, attendants, nurses and other health staff. Alert male nurses and private security guards of the hospital tried to douse the flames with the help of fire extinguishers available in the emergency building till the firemen arrived with six fire tenders and controlled the fire. Principal Dr VP Choudhary said, “It was the timely response by male nurses and hospital staff that a major incident was averted at the old emergency building. Ajit Kumar, fire station officer of Lodipur told this newspaper that six fire tenders doused the fire at the emergency building of PMCH. “The reason behind the fire incident is not clear yet. However, some officials claimed that the fire broke out due to gas leakage in the mess at the emergency ward. The team would investigate the incident,” he said. He added: “A loud noise was heard by locals and patients in the emergency ward before the top floor caught fire.” The probe committee will be headed by chief casualty medical officer Dr Abhijit Singh will have Dr Alok Ranjan, hospital manager, and Dr Chandan, in- charge of the Ayushman health care scheme. senior authorities, including the principal and superintendent, visited the spot and assessed the damage caused by the fire. Police officials of Pirbahore police station also reached the spot. SHO Rizwan Khan said no casualty was reported in the fire incident. “The fire tenders reached on time and doused the flame,” he said.
Web Source: The times of india