published by: Sanstuti Nath
Last update: April 27, 2023, 3:11pm IST
Smoke rises from a fire that broke out in the IGMC hospital building, in Shimla, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. (Photo by PTI)
The new multi-storey OPD block, built at a cost of Rs 30.90 crore, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on 9 March last.
A fire broke out at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMCH) on Thursday after two cooking gas cylinders exploded in the cafeteria, prompting the evacuation of about 250 people from the new OPD building, authorities said.
No casualties have been reported, they said: “We received a call at 8:50am and six firefighters from The Mall Road, Chotta Shimla and Boileauganj were rushed to the scene and the spread of the fire was stopped,” a fire official said.
The column of smoke from the building was visible from afar. The two explosions occurred in quick succession, sparking panic, those present during the incident said.
The explosions occurred when the services of the Outdoor Patient Department (OPD) were just beginning. Within 15 to 20 minutes, some 250 people, including patients, were evacuated with the help of hospital staff and others, IGMCH Senior Medical Superintendent Rahul Rao said.
OPD services have moved to the old building for now, he added.
No casualties have been reported, Rao said, adding that four doctors’ chambers, the cafeteria and three elevators were damaged in the fire and, according to a preliminary estimate, the loss is over Rs 60 lakhs.
Fire extinguishers and other equipment were available in the newly constructed building and were used to stop the spread of the fire until firefighters arrived, health officials said.
The new multi-storey OPD block, built at a cost of Rs 30.90 crore, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on 9 March last.
The building houses the emergency unit, the intensive care unit, the special rooms, the isolation room and the physiotherapy room, as well as the facilities for computed tomography, X-rays, sample collection and pathology laboratory.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)