Raipur
A minor fire incident at Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur on Tuesday afternoon caused considerable alarm among patients and medical staff, but the situation was quickly brought under control. The incident took place in the new trauma operation theatre on the third floor, adjacent to another operating room where a surgical procedure was underway.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been sparked by an electrical short circuit in the air conditioning unit. However, the evacuation process faced challenges due to a shortage of oxygen cylinders and insufficient safety protocols. Hospital spokesperson Shubhra Singh confirmed that a patient was trapped in the operation theatre, requiring the grill to be broken for their rescue.
Singh noted that while there was no actual fire, smoke had accumulated in the operating room due to the short circuit. “Our young doctors acted swiftly to ensure the safety of the patients, including one who was about to be moved from the operating theatre after the procedure,” she said. Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal visited the hospital to check on the patients following the incident.
Three fire service units from Tikrapara Fire Station responded promptly to the emergency. The hospital spokesperson confirmed that the situation was stabilized with no reported injuries. An investigation is currently underway to determine the precise cause of the incident, following an order from the health minister of Chhattisgarh.
