A devastating fire gutted the Calicut Medical College hospital in Kozhikode, India, triggering widespread panic and chaos. The fire started from the medicine storage room, which was situated opposite the chest medicine department’s male ward. No one was injured in the fire, but it caused extensive damage to the hospital’s property.
The fire department had received a distress call regarding the fire at 1:30 pm, and a contingent of firefighters was sent to the spot immediately. It took a long four-hour fight, but the fire was eventually extinguished. The fire is suspected to be caused due to an electrical short circuit, but the reason is yet to be established.
The emergency response team of the hospital intervened immediately, evacuating the patients and workers from the damaged section for their protection. The quick intervention of the hospital workers and the fire department helped avert loss of life on a large scale. Nevertheless, the accident has heightened alertness regarding the safety precautions at the hospital.
The Calicut Medical College hospital is one of the major health centers in the area, and any breakdown in its services will have a wide impact on the patients. The incident has pointed out the necessity of regular safety inspections and audits to avoid such accidents in the future. The authorities are making a proper inquiry into the incident to find out the reasons and take necessary steps.
The state government and health authorities are coordinating with the local administration to restore the services of the hospital at the earliest. The accident is a wake-up call for hospitals and health centers to revisit their safety measures and take advance steps to avert such accidents.