At least 20 patients in the plastic surgery unit of the SCB Medical College Hospital here had a miraculous escape when a fire broke out in a cabin of the unit on Sunday afternoon. Sources said two senior residents present in the unit at the time of the incident who, without waiting for the orders of their seniors, evacuated the patients with the help of security guards immediately from the adjacent two wards of the cabin, thereby averting a major tragedy.
It was believed that the fire broke out due to an electric short circuit of the AC fitted inside the Cabin-1 and soon the two adjacent male and female wards, including Cabin-2, were filled with smoke. A majority of the patients inside the cabin and wards were occupied by burn injury patients and it would have been catastrophic had the patients not been shifted immediately, said an attendant of a patient.
It may be mentioned that over 90 per cent of ACs in the plastic surgery units were replaced last year. But due to lack of maintenance, the ACs are not functioning properly, complained another attendant. It is estimated that properties worth over lakhs of rupees have been damaged due to the fire mishap. The response teams, including the fire brigade personnel, rushed to the spot to ensure that the wards are functional and occupied by evening.