Major fire at Hyderabad hospital; one patient dead

The blaze started on the ground floor of 'Park Superspeciality Hospital' building here this morning and quickly spread to its fifth floor.

As many as 37 persons, including 29 patients who were undergoing treatment in ICU and other emergency wards, were shifted to a nearby corporate hospital. Though, none of them suffered burn injuries, they complained of asphyxiation due to excess inhaling of smoke, they said.

Mangaiah (75), a native of Suryapet who was already on ventilation before being shifted, died this evening reportedly due to shock and inhaling of smoke, hospital sources said.

The condition of four others, including three nurses, was critical after they inhaled smoke and jumped from the second floor when huge flames and thick clouds of smoke emanated from the hospital building, they said.

Over 150 persons, including patients, medical, para- medical staff and attendants, had a providential escape due to timely evacuation by the fire brigade and police personnel.
Ten fire engines and advanced equipment were deployed to extinguish the flames in about two hours, Hyderabad District Fire Officer P Deen Dayal said.