Patients at the Burn Unit of the SCBMCH had a scare when an air-conditioner went up in smoke following a short circuit on Sunday afternoon.
Though the fire was minor and was controlled immediately, around 15 patients admitted to the unit under the Plastic Surgery Department were shifted out as a precautionary measure. No one was hurt in the incident.
The air-conditioner in cabin No 1 of the unit caught fire following a spark in the wire.
The patient admitted to the cabin along with his attendants were immediately evacuated along with 14 others in the entire ward.
The GED staff were called in to inspect the electricity wiring and undertake immediate repair measures. The patients were returned to the unit in the evening.
“The attendants first noticed the spark and alerted the staff. We immediately carried out the evacuation as precaution. No patient or attendant has been hurt,” said HOD Prof Arun Chowdhury.
According to sources, the mishap occurred due to faults in the electricity wiring. Major part of the hospital, in fact, runs the risk of such mishaps as the wires are decades old.
No effort has been made to repair or replace the cables and wires running through the Departments, wards, OTs and important establishments of the hospital, sources rued.
This is the second instance in a year. In August last year, an air-conditioner had also caught fire in the Neurosurgery ICU.