By Bizodisha Correspondent, Cuttack, November 29, 2015 : A major fire broke out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (Sishu Bhawan) here on Sunday. The patients, however, were evacuated to safety.

A newborn susatined minor burn injuries in the mishap while all other patients were completely safe, claimed the hospital authorities. Sources said the fire broke out in one of the warmers, meant to heal newborns, and in no time the entire newborn ward, which has 25 beds, was engulfed in flames. The baby undergoing treatment in the said warmer has sustained minor injuries.

There were 22 newborns in the ward at the time of incident.

“All the patients are safe. We have also doused the flames. Things are completely under control,” said collector, Nirmal Mishra. The collector said fire fighting arrangements in the hospital helped them to control the flames in time. Though the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, a short circuit is being attributed to the mishap.

The fire caused major damage to the medical equipment and other infrastructure of the NICU even as was no report of any loss to life.

Fire tenders were rushed to the spot and engaged to contain the fire. The personnel acted swiftly to evacuate the patients preventing any damage to life.

The incident triggered panic and chaos in the area. Attendants of the patients and hospital staff acted swiftly and evacuated the children from the ward due to which a major mishap was averted. Heavy smoke covered the first floor of the hospital, and in fear patients from other wards were also shifted out of the hospital.

Incidentally, the Sishu Bhavan was in news few months ago due to deaths of 70 infants in a weeks time. The spurt in infants’ death had also prompted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit the hospital.

While the real cause behind the fire is yet to be ascertained, electrical short circuit in the NICU is being suspected as the possible cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, Cuttack District Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra ordered for a probe into the fire mishap at the NICU of Sishu Bhawan. The Collector directed the District Technical Committee to investigate the incident and submit the probe report within seven days. The Committee comprises of four officials who would inquire into the matter.

Later in the day, state Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak visited the hospital to take stock of the situation.

It may be recalled that a minor boy was killed in a major fire that broke out at the third floor of the new building of Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Research Centre (AHRCRC) here on October 16.