Investigation initiated into Srinagar Bone and Joint Hospital blaze

Investigation has been initiated into the fire that damaged a major portion of Kashmir’s only bone and joint hospital at Barzulla in Srinagar on Friday night

Investigation has been initiated into the fire that damaged a major portion of Kashmir’s only bone and joint hospital at Barzulla in Srinagar on Friday night.

The burnt remains of the Bone and Joint Hospital in Srinagar. (Waseem Andrabi/HT)

Officials said the fire began from an emergency operation theatre, which engulfed several rooms of the hospital within minutes and the building was caught in leaping flames. Timely action from the fire and emergency department, along with local and SDRF volunteers helped in shifting of patients to other hospitals in the city. Nobody was injured in the devastating fire, however, it caused huge damage to hospital infrastructure.

Principal of Government Medical College Dr Saima Rashid said the investigations into the cause of fire is being initiated, while restoring the immediate patient care, especially of patients shifted to various hospitals. “The resumption of out-patient department and emergency services at the unaffected building of the bone and joint hospital is of top priority at this time,” she said.

While the stable patients were discharged at night and today morning, 18 of them who needed further treatment were shifted to SKIMS Medical College, Bemina; and 42 have been admitted at SMHS Hospital.

Additional chief secretary health and medical education Vivek Bharadwaj, visited the hospital on Saturday and assured resumption of services in next 10 days.

“All the staff members have been clearing debris since morning. We know this hospital is very important for people of Kashmir, as 20 major surgeries take place here everyday,” he said.

Bharadwaj said that timely action by the district administration and fire and emergency services played a very important role in safeguarding patients and prevented spread of fire to adjacent buildings.