No casualties despite massive fire mishap in PGI Chandigarh .
A fire incident occurred in the computer room of C-block of Nehru Hospital, PGIMER, Chandigarh around 11:45 PM on 09-10-2023 midnight. The primary reason of fire is guessed to be a short circuit in the computer room. The C-block has dialysis unit, Adult kidney Unit, Renal Transplant unit, Female Medical Ward, Male Medical Ward, Gynae, Maternity, Nursery& Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant and operation theatres which functions 24×7 throughout the year. As soon as the incident occurred, security officers, fire officers and staff members including faculty, residents, staff nurses and subordinate staff of PGI got into action and all the patients from these area were rescued and shifted to the safer areas.
Prof Vivek Lal Director, PGI along with senior faculty members Medical Superintendent and Administrative Officers reached the spot immediately and Fire wing, Engineering wing of PGIMER swung into action to provide all the needed care and support required for patient care.
The UT administration, UT fire department also reached the spot and contributed in quick & safe evacuation of the patients and their attendants. The smoke and heat spread to the corridors due to which the patients from adjoining areas Advanced Urology Centre, Male Surgical Ward were also shifted to the safer places so as to avoid any sort of suffocation to the patients.
Patients evacuated during fire incident in C block of Nehru Hospital:
1. Total patients evacuated = 424
2. Adults = 351
3. Intensive Care Unit = 34
4. Pregnant females = 80
5. Babies = 56
6. Paediatric = 17
These patients were shifted to 2 different areas of Nehru Hospital and Nehru Hospital Extension Block.
The patients admitted in adjoining wards and corridors were also shifted to other concerned wards or ICUs to avoid any untoward incident, as smoke spread out in the nearby wards. The evacuation was done with in 60 min of the incident and there was no loss to life of patients or staff. Around 2:00 AM all the services related to patient care were grossly restored.
The Director PGI immediately instructed the engineering wing for restoration of the affected area. The tarnished area will require major repair work and functioning of the OTs and other facilities are expected to made functional as soon as possible. At present, alternative arrangements have been made in other area of PGI, Advanced Trauma Centre and Nehru Hospital Extension & OTs.
A 14-member committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Dean (Academic) Prof Naresh Panda to ascertain the exact cause of fire and working out an action plan so as to avoid any such incidences in future.
