Kashmir hospital gutted: Fire began in theatre, blasts followed

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): A massive fire broke out at Srinagar's Bone and Joint Hospital Barzulla on Friday night, after which patients undergoing treatment there were shifted to other hospitals. The fire at the only orthopaedic hospital in Srinagar has added to the difficulties of the patients.

The fire, which broke out at around 9:30 pm, was contained by fire emergency services after two hours. Police, NGOs and residents rushed the patients to other hospitals in the city. "The fire started at the hospital's emergency theatre but later engulfed the whole building. Men and machinery tried hard to douse it," Dr. Suhail Ahmad, Medical Superintendent, B&J Hospital, said. On the other hand, the hospital building has converted into ashes and charred wood while the administration is currently busy assessing the cause of the fire.

Speaking to the media, Vivek Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department, said the fire started in the emergency theatre of the hospital but later engulfed the entire building. Referring to the emergency services, he said, "All the patients have been shifted to safer places from this hospital where they are undergoing treatment. Emergency services need to be restarted." "All the hospitals have been audited and work is being done accordingly. Doctors are taking care of patients," Bharadwaj added.

A senior hospital official told ETV Bharat on condition of anonymity that a short circuit appears to be the cause of the fire. "No casualties have been reported. All patients are safe and are being treated at other hospitals. The hospital has been closed for a full review of the situation," he said.

Meanwhile, GMC Srinagar Principal Dr. Samia Rashid said that the cause of the fire was being ascertained. She said an investigation was underway to determine the same. In particular, restoring the immediate care of patients transferred to different hospitals and resuming OPD and emergency services in the unaffected building of Bone and Joint Hospital Barzilla is the top priority this time, she said. Situated in the Barzulla locality of Srinagar city, the hospital is the only super-speciality facility for the treatment of bone and joint diseases in the Valley.