Kolkata hospital fire: All patients and hospital staff evacuated safely from SSKM hospital

A major fire broke out at the state government-run SSKM hospital in Kolkata on Monday morning. All patients and hospital staff were evacuated safely. 

The fire broke out at the library housed on the sixth floor of the Ronald Ross Block of the hospital around 10.30-11am. The plastic surgery and burn department is housed right next to the library, where as many as 17 patients were undergoing treatment.  

As soon as the hospital staff spotted smoke billowing out of the windows of the library, authorities undertook the evacuation of the patients. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.

As many as six fire tenders, hydraulic lifts were rushed to the hospital. After two hours of fire-fighting, the fire was brought under control. 

While the cause of the fire is yet to be known, the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee rushed to the hospital and ordered an enquiry. 

“I am happy that everyone escaped unhurt. I have asked the health department to set up a committee to enquire into the incident. Through the enquiry, we will get to know whether it was an act of sabotage or some accident. There will be thorough enquiry by the police and fire services department,” said Banerjee. 

The Chief Minister announced that the SSKM hospital will soon have a permanent fire station inside the hospital premises. “We are planning a permanent fire station inside SSKM, which will have a skylift and two fire tenders,” she added. 

Meanwhile, all the 17 patients that were evacuated from the Ronald Ross Block have been shifted to the Woodburn Ward, where they are undergoing treatment.