Kolkata, 21 April (H.S.): Panic gripped the Salt Lake area near Bidhannagar on Tuesday morning after a fire broke out at Anandalok Hospital. Fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot soon after receiving information and launched rescue operations.

According to preliminary reports, the blaze started on the second floor of the hospital building. Passersby noticed smoke and flames rising from the premises and alerted the fire department. Two fire tenders reached the spot within a short time. By then, a portion of the operation theatre on the second floor had been affected by the fire.

Local residents also assisted firefighters in controlling the blaze. Simultaneously, efforts were made to evacuate admitted patients and shift them to another building of the hospital.

Hospital staff said around 70 to 75 patients were safely moved to the second building. All patients were reported to be safe. Some employees added that every patient admitted on the second and third floors had been evacuated.

Initial suspicion suggests that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in an air-conditioning unit, although authorities have not yet officially confirmed the cause.

By around 11 am, the fire had largely been brought under control. Fire personnel remained at the site to normalise the situation.

Speaking on behalf of the hospital’s trustee board, Sanjay Hajira said, “The fire started from an air-conditioning unit. The situation is now under control. There has been no loss of life. All patients are safe. The fire has been extinguished and only smoke remains.”

Bidhannagar Traffic Deputy Commissioner Meet Kumar said the cause of the fire would be investigated. No official estimate of the damage has yet been released.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh