Gwalior, March 16 – A fire broke out in the ICU of the gynaecology department at Kamla Raja Hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior early Sunday, prompting the evacuation of around 190 patients, officials said.
The blaze, which started around 1 a.m. due to a suspected short-circuit in an air-conditioner, forced authorities to shift patients, including 13 from the ICU, to another hospital, Collector Ruchika Chouhan said.
Hospital guards and staff immediately responded, breaking windows to rescue ICU patients before moving them to a super-specialty facility.
“All patients are safe, and an inquiry will be conducted,” Chouhan said.
Fire tenders from the Gwalior Municipal Corporation later brought the blaze under control.
“The hospital filled with smoke, and staff rushed to evacuate patients. Nothing was visible at the time, but now our patient is safe,” an attendant said.