BERHAMPUR: Panic gripped patients at the community health centre (CHC) in Mohana, Gajapati district, after a fire broke out on the premises on Friday due to a suspected electric short circuit.
“An employee noticed smoke emitting from the sterilisation room, which is located near the operation theatre (OT). He informed the hospital administration as well as the Mohana fire department. Firefighters responded to the call and extinguished the fire in 25 minutes,” said Namita Panda, medical officer, CHC Mohana.
“Though the exact reason of the fire is yet to be ascertained, we suspect that it was due to an electric short circuit,” Panda added.
“There were no injuries and the patients did not need to be evacuated as they were housed in another ward of the hospital. No major damage was reported either. The sterilisation room and the operation theatre in the 53-year-old building were closed, and the power to the building was cut off until it was repaired. The surgeries, however, continued in another OT,” Panda said.
“We will check the electric system in the hospital building which is over 50 years old and will discuss with the district administration to strengthen the safety measures in all hospitals in the district,” said PK Patra, CDMO, Gajapati.
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