VISAKHAPATNAM: A major mishap was averted as fire erupted due to alleged short-circuit in incubator room of Victoria Government Hospital for Maternity Care, at One Town in the city on Friday evening. Around 10 newborn babies who were in the room were rescued without any injuries by the hospital staff after noticing the fire. The fire department officials said that the hospital did not have ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC).
According to district fire officer (DFO) J Mohan Rao, a nurse saw the fire from an air-conditioner in the incubator room of the first storey of the hospital and alerted others. The hospital staff immediately shifted the 10 newborn babies and their mothers to a nearby room. As many as 10 firemen with two fire tenders doused the flames in about half-an-hour, the DFO said. Some air-conditioners and 10 incubators were destroyed.
Mohan Rao also said thick smoke engulfed the premises and fortunately no one was injured. He also added that the hospital did not have NOC from the Fire department. Hospital Superintendent K Padmaleela said that they had to assess damage to the equipment.