Close shave for nine patients as fire breaks out in NCH

Surat: Nine patients in the G0 ward had a miraculous escape when a fire broke in the adjacent dialysis ward of New Civil Hospital (NCH) in the wee hours of Tuesday.
A fire caused by a short-circuit in the dialysis ward at about 2.35am gutted a ventilator, two dialysis machines, an airconditioner and the maze of wires, subsequent to which billows of smoke engulfed the whole area, making breathing difficult for the patients. However, hospital staff acted swiftly and informed the fire brigade about the mishap.

Hari Boraste, fire officer of Majura fire station, said, “Seven patients had been already shifted, but two were still there in the room which was under heavy smoke cover. We went in and brought them out. We also created an outlet for the smoke to go out of the ward.”

He said the fire had caused major damage to the ward, but fortunately there were no casualties. The smoke was result of burning of wires and when you inhale harmful smoke, respiratory failure may develop, Boraste said.

He suggested that since most of the wiring in the hospital was old, it was time the authorities got them replaced from safety point of view.

NCH medical superintendent Dr Jaymin Contractor refused to say anything about the fire incident. He said, “I am superintendent of the hospital and don’t have time. I will get someone to talk to you.”

Dr S Chauhan, a doctor from the resident medical officer’s office, said there was no one in the ward when the fire occurred. There were no casualties in the fire but a safety audit will soon be conducted, if needed, he added.

No safety audit has been conducted in the NCH in the last one year, despite wires and other equipment having become prone to fire risk here.

Most of the lighting system and fans don’t work in the hospital and have become rickety, sources said. No inquiry has been ordered into the incident as yet, they added.