Sparking in needle cutter led to fire: PGI probe panel

Six-member committee rules out short-circuiting as the reason behind the fire.

Four days after fire broke out in operation theatre (OT) 3 on the first floor of the Emergency block, adjacent to the Advanced Trauma Centre at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), a six-member committee headed by dean (research), Dr Arvind Rajwanshi, submitted its findings in connection with the incident here on Monday.

Patients evacuated after fire in the Emergency on April 11. During site inspection, the panel found that wiring from the affected area to the main electrical junction box was intact. (HT File)

As per the report, “Due to sparking in a needle cutter, a baby resuscitator with high oxygen concentration in it caught fire. The fire further spread to the operation theatre.”

The report was submitted to PGI director Dr Jagat Ram. The committee has ruled out short-circuiting as the reason behind the fire.

Findings of the committee

“On April 11, at 9.30 pm, a caesarean section was going on at OT 3. After the delivery, the paediatrician resuscitated the infant and left the operation theatre along with the baby and a staff nurse. A few minutes before the incident, junior resident, department of anaesthesia, Dr Deepika, who was present in OT 3, smelled something burning,” mentions the report.

She noticed a spark in the needle cutter which was kept near the paediatric resuscitator.

“According to Dr Deepika, the paediatric resuscitator trolley corner caught fire, engulfing the entire OT within minutes . The patient was safely shifted from the operation theatre,” mentions the report. Two other staff members also corroborated the doctor’s version.

During the site inspection, the committee found that the wiring from the affected area to the main electrical junction box was intact ruling out the possibility of short circuit.