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

Rumela De Sarkar

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

Written By : Rumela De Sarkar Published On 2026-03-24T15:15:13+05:30 | Updated On 24 March 2026 3:15 PM IST

Fire Breaks Out at NIMHANS, Patient 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.

Also Read:Major hospital fire tragedies in India in recent years

Speaking to TOI, Dr. Shashidhara HN, resident medical officer at Nimhans, said that soon after smoke was noticed emanating from the MRD windows, action was taken and sprinklers activated, which helped contain the fire. "The fire did not spread as a major blaze; instead, it caused superficial damage to a few hundred patient record files and some registers, with no complete destruction or casualties reported," he said, adding the hospital has a digital hospital information system in place (introduced in July 2025) and hence most records are backed up.

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 These include replacing outdated lighting systems with energy-efficient LED fixtures under a government-supported initiative, as well as reorganizing storage layouts in the MRD to reduce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.

Also Read:Regular fire safety audits in Govt Hospitals, says Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling

Medical superintendent Dr. Arvinda HR described the suspected cause as a possible electrical short circuit, though a detailed investigation is still underway.

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciencesnimhanshospital firemedical records

Rumela De Sarkar

With a keen interest in storytelling and a dedication to uncovering facts, Rumela De Sarkar joined Medical Dialogues as a Correspondent in 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of North Bengal. Rumela covers a wide range of healthcare topics, including medical news, policy updates, and developments related to doctors, hospitals, and medical education