Fire breaks out at hospital in Kalaburagi

Narrow escape for 26 newborns

All the 26 newborn babies kept in the neonatal critical care unit (NCCU) of the District General Hospital here had a narrow escape when a fire broke out in the ward on Wednesday.

Smoke started billowing from the air conditioner when it suddenly exploded and the alert staff swung into action and shifted the babies to safer places.

The NCCU has 22 warmers, but the 26 babies, which had low birth weight, were admitted to the 24x7 AC ward. Since the incident happened around 2 pm, all the staff were present and were able to rescue the babies, hospital sources said.

“We are fortunate that none of the babies has been harmed. The credit for rescuing them should go to the staff present there at that moment. The babies were shifted to different medical college hospitals in the city,” District Surgeon Dr Nalini Namoshi told Deccan Herald. The situation would have been totally different had the accident occurred during the night hours, said the hospital staff. The accident, attributed to a possible shortcircuit, could not be explained properly.

 Deputy Commissioner Vipul Bansal, who visited the hospital, said the accident had occurred due to the explosion of the air-conditioner.

“The timely action of the hospital staff is highly appreciated. A power auditing has been ordered and the report is likely to be submitted on Saturday. Based on the report, further action will be taken,” Bansal said.,The air conditioner has been totally charred. Fakirappa Doddamani, a male nurse, broke open the window panes with his bare hands to clear the smoke and in the proces injured his hand. He is being treated at the same hospital, the staff said.