21 patients evacuated after fire breaks out in Bengaluru hospital

Bengaluru: Twenty-one patients had a narrow, miraculous escape after a fire broke out at a private hospital in northern Bengaluru in the early hours of Wednesday, officials said.

Fourteen of the patients were in the intensive care unit (ICU).

According to Fire and Emergency Services officials, the incident was reported around 3.15 am from Aveksha Hospital located on M S Palya Road in Singapura. The fire is suspected to have originated from an electrical cable in the basement duct, leading to heavy smoke engulfing parts of the building.

Officials said the hospital staff acted swiftly and evacuated 14 patients from the ICU, situated on the second floor, before Fire and Emergency Services personnel reached the scene. In total, 21 patients from the first floor were safely shifted out in time, averting a major tragedy.

A fire tender was pressed into service after a hospital staff member, Yasmin Taj, alerted the fire control room.

The building is a basement-plus-four-floor structure. Fire officials said the ICU suffered damage due to the smoke and fire.

Despite dense smoke filling the premises, all the patients escaped miraculously without injuries, officials said.

Fire services personnel later brought the blaze under control before it could spread further. The exact extent of property damage is yet to be assessed.

The Vidyaranyapura police inspected the scene and have launched a probe.