In 5 years, PGI, Chandigarh, saw 385 fire incidents

Naina Mishra

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Chandigarh, April 17

The PGI witnessed 385 fire incidents in five years, from 2016 to 2021. The institute is struggling to get a fire NOC from the local Fire Department for buildings other than the newly built Nehru Extension Block.

In 2018, a fire broke out in an operation theatre on the first floor of the Emergency block and around 150 patients were evacuated from the intensive care unit and the Emergency out-patient department to safer places. The fire broke out soon after an operation. A nurse was disposing of used needles in a machine, which led to a spark and fire.

The same year, a fire broke out at the gastroenterology ward of Nehru Hospital of the PGI. Nearly 50 patients, including six from the ICU, were shifted to other wards. A short circuit was suspected to be the reason.

Rajesh Kumar, fire officer of the PGI, said, “We record every fire incident, even if it is a minor short circuit. In a majority of the cases, the reasons of the fire incidents were short circuit, erratic power supply, overloading, wiring issues and medical equipment not properly maintained. We have been able to control the fire incidents so far and no casualty has been reported from the hospital due to the fire incidents.”

Kumar added that the PGI was an old institute and many of its buildings were 50 years old. The fire department of the institute was working towards introducing changes in the building as per the National Building Code, 2016, that lays down fire safety norms.

Recently, the PGI had released an official circular to heads of all departments and officers (sanitation workers and hospital attendants) to avoid lighting of “dhoop”, “jot” and incense sticks, and use of cooking stove in the hospital building.