Incense factory fire: Injured firemen denied treatment

Three firemen who were injured while dousing the fire at the incense factory did not get adequate medical care on Tuesday. 

They sustained injuries while breaking window panes and grills to spray the water inside the building.

Shivaprakash sustained an injury on his right hand, while Nagaraj sustained an injury near his eyes.

They were rushed to a nearby hospital but were denied treatment. Hospital authorities allegedly told the firemen that they do not have the medicines to treat them.

Fire department officials have now complained to their senior officers about the doctors and the hospital.

Later, the injured firemen were taken to another hospital.

“This does not happen all the time. We face problems in 20% of the cases. The doctors want money and won’t treat firemen. But we do settle bills. However, the process of clearing bills is slow,” said BK Hamppagol, deputy director (technical), Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services.

“We risk our life but we are denied treatment! Other fire officials at the spot, too, had trouble breathing. They rested for a while before returning to work,” he added