Massive fire at Amritsar’s Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, no casualty
Eight fire tenders pressed into service; blaze brought under control in about twoand-a-half hours
FIRE SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY FUEL LEAK IN TRANSFORMERS KEPT IN A ROOM ON GROUND FLOOR, PROBE ON
AMRITSAR: A massive fire broke out at Government Medical College’s Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar on Saturday around 2pm, though no casualty was reported.
As per information, the fire started on the ground floor, in a room where electricity transformers were kept, and later spread to the first floor, where OPDS of many specialties, skin ward and ECG room are situated.
Patients, their attendants and hospital staff were immediately evacuated, thus preventing casualties but the hospital’s functioning was affected.
Some records stored in an adjoining room, besides a scooter, were also gutted in the fire.
As many as eight fire tenders were pressed into service and the blaze was brought under control in about two-and-a-half hours.
Though it is suspected that the fire was caused by a fuel leak in the transformers, a probe has been ordered by power and PWD minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, who rushed to the hospital to take stock of the situation.
“Though the fire seems to have started due to oil leak in one of the transformers, a thorough investigation will be carried out. Any employee or official found responsible will not be spared.”
He further said added, “Thousands of patients are undergoing treatment here and future doctors are also being trained. Any kind of negligence in terms of safety will not be tolerated.”
Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Partap also rushed to the spot.
Government Medical College is the largest government-run health institution in Majha and Doaba regions of Punjab and sees an average footfall of 1,500 patients on any given day.
At the time of the mishap, around 600 people were believed to have been in the hospital.
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann also tweeted about the incident.
“Received news of incident of fire at Guru Nanak Hospital in Sri Amritsar Sahib. Firefighters are quickly controlling the situation. No life was lost due to the grace of God. Minister Harbhajan Singh has reached the spot... i am continuously monitoring the relief work,” wrote the CM.