Fire breaks out in ICU of Odisha's MKCG Hospital

Berhampur: A fire broke out in the ICU of the TB and Chest Department at the state-run MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Berhampur town on Thursday evening, causing panic among patients. 

No injuries were reported in the incident, and three patients undergoing treatment in the ICU were immediately shifted to another room, officials said.

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According to the PTI report, the fire was suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit due to a loose connection, they said, adding that a wall fan was damaged in the incident.

“Before fire personnel reached the spot, the ward security staff managed to completely extinguish the blaze,” said Registrar Sweta Das.

Superintendent of the medical college and hospital, Sudeepta Das, said it was a minor fire. “It was not a major fire. There was sparking due to a short circuit. 

The hospital administration would soon review existing safety measures and take necessary steps to prevent such incidents in future,” he said.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a major safety scare unfolded at a private hospital in Dehradun after a reported short circuit in an air-conditioning unit inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) triggered a fire, leaving one patient dead and 16 others injured, including three police personnel. The incident has once again raised serious concerns about fire safety measures and emergency response preparedness in hospitals.

According to the news reports, the deceased patient was a 66-year-old resident of Balliwala and was on ventilator support when the incident occurred. Her family members stated that she was diabetic and had been admitted to the Panacea Hospital on Monday. 

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