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A significant fire broke out at the Sealdah ESI Hospital in Kolkata on Friday morning, causing considerable disruption and raising concerns about patient safety. Fire officials confirmed that ten fire tenders were promptly dispatched to the scene and successfully brought the blaze under control within two hours. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties as a result of the fire. However, the incident has raised questions about the hospital's fire safety measures and the circumstances surrounding the death of one patient, which is currently under investigation.
The fire, which erupted around 5:30 am, originated on the first floor of the men's surgical ward. The cause of the fire is suspected to be a short circuit, according to preliminary reports from West Bengal Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak, but a detailed investigation is underway. Prompt action was taken to evacuate all patients from the affected ward. Some were transferred to other facilities, while approximately 50 patients were relocated to the Maniktala ESI Hospital. The fire caused significant damage to the ward, highlighting the need for improved fire safety protocols and infrastructure.
West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose, who rushed to the hospital after receiving reports of the fire, confirmed that the blaze was under control and that the cooling process was underway. He acknowledged the claim of a patient's family about the death of their relative but stated that it was unclear whether the death was directly caused by fire-induced suffocation or due to natural causes. A forensic team from Kolkata Police is investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire and its impact on the patient's death.
Source: Major fire breaks out at Sealdah ESI Hospital; no reports of casualty