Short circuit causes fire at Bhatia Hospital, 250 evacuated

Civic officials clarified that the blaze was confined to electrical wiring and installations in the CT–MRI unit and was not major in nature

Mumbai: A short circuit triggered fire at Bhatia Hospital in Tardeo on Monday afternoon, filling the ground floor with thick smoke and prompting the temporary evacuation of around 250 patients, doctors and staff.

Several patients admitted to the Bhatia Hospital at Grant road were evacuated as a safety measure after a fire broke out within the hospital premises. (Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo)

The incident was reported to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) at around 1.35 pm. Locals said the fire originated in the CT and MRI scan room on the ground floor, following which smoke quickly spread across the lower floors of the hospital. Civic officials later clarified that the blaze was confined to electrical wiring and installations in the CT–MRI unit and was not major in nature.

As a precautionary measure, the hospital authorities evacuated 250 people, including patients, doctors and staff. All those evacuated were later moved in safely after the situation was brought under control. No injuries were reported.

Fire brigade officials said the fire was completely extinguished by around 3 pm, but the smoke continued to persist. A chemist at a shop near the hospital said smoke lingered in the premises for nearly two hours as firefighting operations continued.