Fire at Maternity Ward of Thanjavur Government Raja Mirasdar Hospital

Thanjavur: A fire erupted in the maternity block of the Government Raja Mirasudar General Hospital in Thanjavur on Thursday afternoon, prompting the evacuation of around 150 people, including pregnant women, newborns, and hospital staff. 

The blaze is suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit in an air conditioning unit, causing significant smoke to billow throughout the building, leading to breathing problems for several staff members.

As a precaution, the hospital's electricity supply was cut off to prevent the fire from escalating. Emergency protocols were activated, and the hospital staff worked diligently to evacuate patients, staff, and others in the building. Approximately 150 people were safely moved to the nearby Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) block, which served as a temporary shelter. Among the evacuated were more than 70 pregnant women and 52 post-natal women.

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Speaking to TOI, the hospital's regional medical officer, Dr S Amuthavadivu,  said, "There were two surgeries in progress in the operation theatre on the same floor, which was smokeproof. Except for the staff and patients in the theatre, we moved the other patients to the reproductive and child health (RCH) block."

Nine hospital staff members, who had been exposed to the smoke, were treated on-site for breathing difficulties. However, fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.

As per the news reports, the fire began around 12:15 pm in the pre-anaesthesia room on the first floor of the maternity block, which, fortunately, was unoccupied at the time. As smoke began to spread, hospital workers, including ward assistants and floor staff, rushed into the room, attempting to contain the fire using fire extinguishers. However, the smoke quickly escalated, filling the entire building.

Upon receiving information about the fire, the local fire and rescue services rushed to the scene and used a smoke exhauster to clear the thick smoke from the building.

According to TOI, District Fire Officer (DFO) S Kumar said the maternity block lacked fire detectors and water sprinklers in the ceiling. "The fire broke out due to the snag in the split air-conditioner. The sparks might have fallen on the mattresses of one of the beds, resulting in large flames," Kumar added.

Thanjavur District Collector, B Priyanka Pankajam, visited the hospital shortly after the incident to assess the situation. She inspected the block where the fire had broken out and also the nearby block to which the patients were relocated.

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