Fire at PMCH destroys HIV viral load office, causes Rs 1.5 crore loss

The incident occurred around 2:00 PM, while an examination was in progress. Students and staff were immediately evacuated, and five fire tenders were deployed. The fire was brought under control soon after.

Speaking to TOI, PMCH Superintendent Rajiv Kumar Singh stated that the HIV viral load office was completely destroyed.

“Freezers, AC units, documents and costly chemicals were gutted. The loss is estimated at over Rs 1.5 crore. The swift response of the fire department helped avert a major tragedy. A detailed assessment is underway. Initial reports suggest a short circuit as the cause of fire. The incident will disrupt HIV testing as samples from other districts are analysed here,” Singh said. 

District Fire Commandant Ritesh Pandey stated that the control room received an alert at 2:10 PM.

“One fire tender is stationed on the campus round the clock, and six more were rushed. Fire safety arrangements on campus are inadequate. It is a sensitive case and will be investigated,” he said.

Pratyul Nandan, Head of the Department of Microbiology, stated that the Microbiology examination was being conducted in two shifts.

“We were about to leave. By then smoke started rising. First, we cut off the electricity supply. By then, the flames had intensified. Attempts were also made to extinguish it. When it didn't go out, the fire department was informed”, he stated. 

This is the second fire incident in this very department since April, in which equipment, machinery, and documents were damaged. Prior to this, a fire had broken out during the shifting of materials in the old building of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at PMCH. 

Currently, the entire incident is being investigated, and the damage is being assessed.