Srinagar: Panic gripped SMHS hospital in Srinagar on Saturday when fire broke out in trauma theatre area, forcing attendants to rush their patients out of the hospital.

Eye witnesses said that fire broke out in trauma theatre area of SMHS hospital in Srinagar on Saturday which created panic among the patients and the attendants who were seen rushing out of the hospital.

A witness said that people ran after fire engulfed the trauma theatre waiting area around 11 am on the second floor of the casualty block.

Panic struck attendants of patients admitted to neurosurgery ward, located adjacent to the theatre, tried to move beds out of the ward as the fire spread, he said.

“Smoke engulfed the whole floor and power supply got snapped,” he said. Theatre area and neuro ward have been damaged in the fire, said a hospital source.

The timely action of fire fighters, the eyewitnesses said prevented the fire from spreading and the water used to control the fire rendered the area unusable.

The patients, a doctor said were evacuated and were later shifted to other wards, as the space was rendered useless after that. “The patients have now been evacuated and shifted to other wards,” he said.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the fire incident, as the patients as well as well attendants quickly rushed out of the building. “No injuries were reported due to the fire incident,” a doctor said.

The fire reportedly emanated from the area where discarded furniture and machinery of the hospital were stored.

Guest