Fire breaks out at emergency ward at Delhi’s AIIMS, no injuries

A fire broke out in the emergency ward building of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi on Monday, officials said.

Necessary evacuations and shifting of patients were carried out immediately. No injuries were reported in the incident, they added.

Delhi Fire Services (DFS) director Atul Garg said that a call was received from the emergency ward of AIIMS at around 11.54am after which eight fire tenders were pressed into service.

According to the fire department, the blaze broke out on the second floor of the six-storey main building. The fire was doused by 12.50pm, while the search operation continued for the next few hours.

According to hospital authorities, the fire broke out at the old Rajkumari Amrit Kaur out patient department (endoscopy unit under department of gastroenterology) on the second floor, after which security and fire control room were informed.

Police said that inspection found that the fire originated in the store room on the second floor, which was locked.

The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained, police and fire department officials said.

“Fire fighting team was alerted after confirmation of the site of fire-outbreak. Visible fire and dense smoke were observed emerging out of the second floor. Delhi fire services were also intimated by security control room and simultaneously from control room,” AIIMS said in a statement .

AIIMS said that necessary instructions on plan of evacuation, admission procedures, including emergency services, were also given.

“The fire was immediately controlled by AIIMS Fire Services. Subsequently, fire tender staff of Delhi Fire Services arrived. They supported in cooling off the area,” they added.

The hospital also said 31 patients of AB-2 ward were shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and AB-7 ward. Seventy patients were also shifted from the emergency area to other facilities and areas. “No casualties/injuries were reported... All the efforts are being made to bring back normalcy in medical services at the earliest,” the statement further read.

AIIMS director, Dr M Srinivas, was also present at the spot to oversee the evacuation process.

“We saw a lot of smoke coming out of the building and then suddenly people started rushing out of the building. There was a lot of commotion but I do not think anyone was stuck inside; all were safely evacuated in time,” said Kamala Madan, an attendant.

Deputy commissioner of police (south), Chandan Chowdhary, said that police reached the spot and the area was immediately cordoned off.

“A total of 13 fire tenders, five Police Control Room vans and emergency response vehicle along with 30 local staff and three CATS ambulance, and a team of Delhi Disaster Management Authority also immediately reached at the spot,” the officer said.

“Fire broke out in a room which had been closed for long. Therefore, the cause is yet to found,” said another police officer.

“The immediate response of police staff and other emergency services contained the fire, and no injuries or casualties occurred,” the DCP added.