Alappuzha: A fire broke out at the Thuravoor taluk hospital (government-run hospital) on Tuesday (April 14) around 10.15 am.
According to preliminary information, the blaze is believed to have started from a room used for storing medicines located above the dialysis unit.
The incident occurred on the third floor of the hospital building, where a medical storage godown is situated.
Thick smoke rising from the premises triggered panic among patients, attendants, staff and onlookers outside. Hospital authorities immediately shifted patients from the taluk hospital as a precautionary measure. They were moved to Cherthala taluk hospital, officials said. No major injuries have been reported so far.
Preliminary assessment suggests a short circuit, possibly linked to an air-conditioner, as the cause of the fire. Fire and rescue services are carrying out operations at the site.
Patients evacuated as smoke spreads through hospital building
The fire is understood to have originated in the area where medicines were stored above the dialysis unit on the third floor. Smoke spread rapidly through parts of the building, prompting urgent evacuation measures.
Patients undergoing dialysis, along with others admitted in the hospital, were safely moved out soon after the fire was detected. Authorities confirmed that the evacuation was completed without any reported injuries.
Hospital officials said swift response helped prevent casualties. The cause of the fire remains under preliminary examination, with a short circuit suspected. The accumulation of smoke led to confusion and panic within the hospital complex.
Similar hospital fire earlier triggered human rights probe in Thiruvananthapuram
A similar fire incident at a government hospital had earlier led to a human rights probe in Thiruvananthapuram.
The State Human Rights Commission ordered a high-level inquiry into a fire that broke out in the surgical ICU of the multi-speciality block at Government Medical College Hospital. The probe followed allegations that five patients, shifted from the ICU after the incident on March 17, later died under suspicious circumstances.
Acting on media reports, SHRC chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas directed the Health Department's Additional Chief Secretary to conduct a detailed investigation into the sequence of events, evacuation process, causes of death and post-mortem findings.
A report is to be submitted within five weeks, with statements from staff, relatives and experts also to be recorded.