At least 60 cardiac patients at government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital escaped unhurt today when a major fire broke out in its cardio-vascular department.
Three fire engines took more than one hour to bring the blaze under control but not before it completely gutted one of the duty rooms located on the second floor of the building, fire brigade sources said.
Eye witnesses said columns of smoke billowed from the duty room around 3 PM and the fire soon spread to an adjacent ward and ICU which housed around 60 patients at that time.
The patients were immediately shifted to the ground floor by their attendants, B N Maharana, hospital administrative officer said.
District magistrate Nirmal Chandra Mishra has ordered an administrative probe into the fire.
"Thankfully all the patients are safe and their treatments resumed immediately after bringing the situation under control," he said.
Maharana said the extent of the damage was yet to be ascertained.
Health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Naik, health secretary Arati Ahuja and the local legislator visited the hospital and took stock of the situation.
