Fire breaks out Bengal government hospital

A fire broke out in West Bengal's largest state-run hospital here on Monday, officials said.

However, there were no casualties or injury at the SSKM Hospital, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed.

"The fire is under control. All patients are safe. Some patients were shifted. Nobody was injured," said Banerjee, who rushed to the hospital.

There was panic as smoke billowed out from the top floor library of the Ronald Ross building.

The plastic surgery department complex and male and female wards are located a floor below the library, where the blaze occurred.

Sixteen fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was under control now, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sovan Chatterjee said.

The Chief Minister said an investigation has been ordered.

"The library caught fire. The cause of the fire will be probed by the fire department, police and the health department," Banerjee announced and assured the panicked relatives of patients that there was nothing to worry about.

"The government has decided to set up a permanent fire station in the hospital premises. An office and two fire tenders will be stationed from tomorrow (Tuesday)."

This is the third fire in a West Bengal government hospital over the past three months.

On August 20, fire broke out in the operation theatre of Katwa sub-divisional hospital in Burdwan district. No injuries or casualties was reported.

Only a week later, two women died and seven patients were injured in a stampede after a blaze engulfed a part of the state-run Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital in Baharampur.

--IANS

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