Major fire sparks panic at AIIMS, patients evacuated
The fire broke out at the second floor in the PC building, which does not have patients and mainly comprises doctors' rooms.
New Delhi: A major fire broke out at the teaching block of the AIIMS here on Saturday, destroying samples and medical reports and forcing evacuation of some patients, though no one was injured, officials said.
The fire started at around 5 pm from the Microbiology department and thick plumes of smoke billowed from the building, sparking panic among patients, attendants and staff, and affecting emergency services. The Microbiology department’s virology unit on the second floor of the teaching block was completely gutted, officials said.
Reportedly, former finance minister Arun Jaitley is admitted at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the cardio-neuro centre, which is housed in a different building in the complex. According to Atul Garg, the chief fire officer of the Delhi fire services (DFS), a call regarding the fire was received at around 4.50 pm, following which 34 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.
“The fire broke out at the second floor in the PC building, which does not have patients and mainly comprises doctors’ rooms. But it is situated near the emergency block. The fire was brought under control at around 6.30 pm,” said Mr Garg, adding that no causality was reported.
“The exact reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained. Initial investigation suggests short-circuit to be the reason behind the fire,” said a fire official.
Taking a precautionary measure, authorities closed the emergency department which is adjacent to the building that caught fire, sources in the hospital said, adding that B block, ward AB1, and the super specialty OPD area of the institute have also been shut down.
A guard posted at the teaching block of the AIIMS said he was the first to notice the blaze, following which he informed the control room and started the rescue operation with other officials.
Later in a statement, the AIIMS authorities said, as per Delhi Fire Services and AIIMS Fire Division, the fire at Teaching Block of AIIMS, New Delhi has been put off completely. Union minister of health Dr. Harsh Vardhan and president of AIIMS personally monitored the efforts on-site towards extinguishing the fire and also regarding patient care.