Fire at SMHS hospital Srinagar grips panic among people

Srinagar: Fire broke out in trauma theatre area of SMHS hospital in Srinagar on Saturday, creating panic and forcing the attendants to evacuate their patients from the adjoining ward.
A witness said that people ran helter-skelter after fire engulfed the trauma theatre waiting area around 11 am on the second floor of casualty block.
Panic struck attendants of patients admitted to neurosurgery ward, located adjacent to the theatre, tried to move beds out of the ward as the fire spread, he said.
“Smoke engulfed the whole floor and power supply got snapped,” he said. Theatre area and neuro ward have been damaged in the fire, said a hospital employee on conditions of anonymity .
The timely action of fire fighters prevented the fire from spreading, he said, adding that water used to control the fire has rendered the area unusable.
“All patients have now been evacuated and shifted to other wards,” he said, adding there was no report of any injuries.
He said that the fire emanated from an area where discarded furniture and machinery were stored.
Hospital authorities were not available for comments.