Fire at NIMHANS Bengaluru, over 1,000 medical records destroyed

Bengaluru: A fire broke out at the medical records department of National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, destroying over 1,000 patient files and registers, officials said. 

According to the news reports, the incident occurred on March 14 at around 6:30 pm inside the OPD building, shortly after the department had closed for the day. Fire and emergency services were alerted at 6:59 pm, and personnel reached the spot within minutes, managing to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the building.

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However, internal sources suggest the damage may be more extensive than officially stated. Allegedly, as many as seven racks—each containing thousands of files—were severely affected. These records could include critical medico-legal documents, court-related case files, and evaluations of prison inmates referred for psychiatric assessment, raising potential legal and administrative concerns.

Preliminary inspection points to an electrical issue as the likely cause. Officials cited overheating from an old tubelight choke or an exhaust fan as possible triggers, with a short circuit also under consideration.

Authorities have not filed a police complaint, citing the absence of casualties, major property damage, or suspicion of foul play. An internal inspection, along with input from external fire safety experts, has been conducted, reports News Karnataka.

Dr. Shashidhara noted that preventive measures are already being planned. These include replacing outdated lighting systems with energy-efficient LED fixtures under a government-supported initiative, as well as reorganizing storage layouts in the MRD to reduce congestion and limit fire risks in the future.

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