Wardha: Panic gripped the district general hospital in Wardha after a fire broke out in building no. 2, prompting authorities to evacuate 33 people, including 10 patients. Though the fire alarm failed to go off, the alacrity displayed by hospital staff and emergency services led to zero casualties.The blaze started in a storeroom adjacent to the paediatric ward around 1.40pm on Tuesday, making the situation critical due to its proximity to the children’s ward. Sources said, the dud fire alarm system was recently installed at a huge expenditure. District civil surgeon Sumant Wagh admitted the fire-fighting system “did not become fully operational.” At least 10 patients were present in the nutritional rehabilitation centre when the fire broke out, said Wagh.Hospital staff and citizens initially tried to control the fire before the fire brigade took charge and brought the blaze under control. Police and senior officers also rushed to the hospital to assist in the operation.Building No. 2 houses X-ray and CT scan departments on the ground floor, the women’s surgery department on the first floor, and the paediatric ward on the second floor. Officials said a major tragedy was averted as the fire was swiftly contained.While the cause of the fire is under investigation, there was a growing demand among hospital staff to order an inquiry into why the fire alarm failed at such a sensitive facility.“PWD will be asked to conduct electrical and fire audits to determine the reason. Patient and child records were stored there,” health services deputy director Shashikant Shambharkar said.Deoli MLA Rajesh Bakane, who visited the site, said, “Such incidents should not be repeated. If audits are done in hotels, why not in hospitals? Many documents were burnt. Action must be taken against those responsible. It must be investigated when audits were last conducted and whether corrective measures were done.”
