Visakhapatnam: Nitrous Oxide Leak Causes Fire Accident in Indus Hospital

VISHAKHAPATNAM: A fire broke out at Indus Hospitals near the Jagadamba Junction here on Thursday. It occurred on the second floor due to a nitrous oxide leak but there were no casualties, police and hospital authorities said.

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked district collector A. Mallikarjuna to constitute a committee to investigate the incident. The committee comprises the RDO, the ACP- East sub-division, the district medical and health officer, the district fire officer and the district coordinator of hospital services.

The collector asked the committee to inquire into the reasons behind the fire and submit a report within 24 hours. Action would be initiated against the hospital, officials said.

As per preliminary information, 47 patients from the hospital were rescued. Of these, 17 including 5 ICU patients were shifted to Medicover Hospital and 30 patients to Vijetha Hospital for treatment. Their condition was reported stable.

Thick smoke engulfed the first and second floors of the five-floor hospital building. District fire officer S. Renukaiah said 11 fire tenders rushed to the spot from various fire stations, apart from three of the CISF, NDRF and Visakhapatnam Port Authority.

Most of the patients were brought out of the hospital immediately through the staircase and from the back door of the hospital. The firemen had to toil hard to bring a few patients out of the ICU as thick smoke filled the affected floors. The firemen broke glass windows and used ladders for the rescue operation.

Later, a sky-lift was used to check whether any person was stuck inside the building.

“Around 50 firemen were involved in the operation. It took around two and a half hours to put out the fire. The hospital staff used a first aid fire kit, but they were unable to control the smoke,” Renukaiah said.

Police commissioner Ravi Shankar went to the spot and enquired about the accident with the hospital management and fire personnel. Visakhapatnam South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh, former MLC P.V.N. Madhav and GVMC officials also reached the spot