TV
Cuttack: Panic gripped patients and local residents after a major fire broke out in Sun Hospital, a private multi-speciality hospital at the Biju Patnaik chhak in Cuttack on Monday.
Recounting the horror in the neighbourhood, Sritam Das, a local resident said, “I was at home when I noticed smoke billowing out of the hospital. This was the second instance of a major fire mishap at a hospital in Cuttack in last few months. Though the administration claims that there were 11 patients, we suspect that there could more as it is one of the biggest hospitals in the city.”
Das said that the local residents staying close to the hospital rushed out of their respective homes after they came to know about the fire mishap.
Meanwhile, Cuttack Collector, Bhabani Shankar Chayani said that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident to find out if the fire safety measures were in place at the hospital.
He said the fire has been brought under control and as many as 11 patients evacuated to safety. They have been shifted to the SCB Medical College.
As per preliminary reports, 11 patients who were undergoing treatment at the hospital were rescued after a long operation by the Odisha Fire Services Personnel.
The incident has raised serious questions over the in-house fire safety measures at the hospital which is located in the heart of the city. The fire reportedly broke out in the top floor of the hospital.
Sources said that some extension and construction work was being carried out the hospital when the mishap occurred. At least five fire tenders had been mobilised to douse the fire.
As the approach road to the hospital was quite narrow, it created problems for the fire tenders to reach the spot.
All oxygen cylinders which were kept at different places in the hospital were immediately relocated after the fire was noticed.
DCP Prateek Singh, who rushed to the spot said that all the patients were safely evacuated.
Barabati-Cuttack MLA Mohammad Moquim said, “Only after a detailed assessment, we can say whether there were any lapses on part of the hospital administration. As per reports the fire broke in the top floor and there were no casualty in the mishap.”
“We will raise the issue with the State government to conduct detail inspection of all hospitals and nursing homes to carry out checks on the necessary fire safety approvals and other safety measures,” Moquim added.
