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Rediff.com  » News » Major fire in Hyderabad hospital; one killed

Major fire in Hyderabad hospital; one killed

Last updated on: February 2, 2010 23:38 IST

Image: The Park Super-specialty Hospital
Photographs: Snaps India

A major fire broke out in a private hospital in Hyderabad on Tuesday, in which nearly 150 people, including 29 patients in the Intensive Care Unit and emergency wards, had a providential escape. But an old patient on ventilation was not so lucky.

Major fire in Hyderabad hospital

Image: Patients being carried out of the hospital

The condition of four persons, including three nurses, was reportedly critical after they inhaled smoke and jumped from the second floor, when huge flames and thick clouds of smoke leapt from the five-storey hospital building in Hyderabad, hospital sources said.

Major fire in Hyderabad hospital

Image: Patients being carried out

The blaze started on the ground floor of 'Park Super-specialty Hospital' building today morning and quickly spread to the top floor. The patients, along with several hospital staff, were trapped inside for nearly an hour before being pulled out of the inferno.

Major fire in Hyderabad hospital

Image: The burning hospital

Mangaiah, 75, a native of Suryapet, who was already on ventilation before being shifted to a nearby hospital after the blaze, died on Tuesday evening reportedly due to shock and inhalation of smoke, hospital sources said.

As many as 37 persons, including 29 patients who were undergoing treatment in ICU and other emergency wards, were shifted to a nearby hospital.

Major fire in Hyderabad hospital

Image: Fire fighters try to douse the flames

Though none of them suffered burn injuries, they complained of asphyxiation due to excess inhaling of smoke, sources said.

They were among the 150 persons, including patients, medical, paramedical staff and attendants, who had a providential escape due to timely evacuation by the fire brigade and police personnel.

Major fire in Hyderabad hospital

Image: Patients being carried out

Ten fire engines and advanced equipment were deployed to extinguish the flames, which took nearly two hours, said Hyderabad District Fire Officer P Deen Dayal.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out after the electric transformer in the hospital premises burst.

Major fire in Hyderabad hospital

Image: Patients being carried out

Police Commissioner A K Khan, who visited the spot, said a criminal case has been registered against the hospital management and investigations are on to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The fire department personnel said no safety measures had been adopted in the building and some extinguishers placed in the hospital were in poor condition. Besides, a large amount of combustible material was used in the hospital building for panelling and decoration, which resulted in the rapid spread of the fire.

The mishap also caused a stampede as there was only one stair-case in the building.

Earlier, Health and Family Welfare Minister Danam Nagender, who visited the spot, ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

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