Prayagraj: Minor fire at SN Children’s Hospital causes panic

Panic prevailed at ward number four of government-run Sarojini Naidu Children’s Hospital after a fire broke out in an electric panel board ‘due to a short circuit’ late on Sunday night

Panic prevailed at ward number four of government-run Sarojini Naidu Children’s Hospital after a fire broke out in an electric panel board ‘due to a short circuit’ late on Sunday night. There were no injuries as the attendants of children admitted to the ward immediately rushed outside.

A patient’s attendant rushing out with the sick child out of the ward filled with smoke at SN Children’s Hospital on Sunday night. (HT PHOTO)

The staff on duty controlled the fire before it could spread to other panel boards. The children were later shifted to other wards. An investigation is being carried out into the incident, the hospital administration said.

According to reports, the electrical panel board at bed number one of Sarojini Naidu Bal Chikitsalay was lying defunct. On Sunday night, the socket in the panel board suddenly caught fire and smoke spread in the ward, causing panic. Ten children, who were admitted there, were shifted to other wards.

Head of the department Dr Mukesh Singh said the electric supply was disconnected to stop the spread of fire to other switchboards. The electric panel had been repaired and children sent back to their ward, he added.