Vadodara: The state-run SSG Hospital (SSGH) in Vadodara witnessed chaos and panic late in the evening on September 8 as fire broke out in a Covid-19 intensive care unit (ICU) where 38 patients were admitted.
While the resident doctors and volunteers stood up to the occasion and ensured that no lives were lost, there seems to be no sense of urgency in completing the investigation into the incident at the central Gujarat’s biggest government hospital.
The fire broke out in the ICU located on the first floor of the trauma centre that has been converted into a Covid-19 hospital. All patients were evacuated in the nick of time by resident doctors. Other staffers and volunteers also rushed to the floor and ensured that the fire did not spread and all patients were shifted from the affected floor.
The patients brought out of the building on stretchers and beds with oxygen cylinders were initially kept in the parking area opposite the building. They were then shifted to other hospitals for further treatment.
Visuals available later and details gathered in fire officials initially indicated that fire broke out in a Dhaman ventilator. However, subsequently officials have been reluctant to name the brand. The probe ordered immediately after the incident is yet to be completed.
Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) deputy municipal commissioner S K Patel who is heading the probe said that the probe was not complete as forensic experts were yet to give their report. “I had asked for the report before Diwali and have sent a missive to the police today too,” said Patel on Friday.
When asked if the probe so far had revealed the involvement of a Dhaman ventilator, Patel said that he could not comment on it at this stage. “We will have to wait for the FSL report,” he said.