Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 20 May: A devastating fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Panacea Hospital here this morning, leading to the death of a woman patient and injuries to several others including three policemen engaged in rescue operations. The incident occurred around 9.20 am when the air-conditioner installed in the ICU reportedly exploded, triggering flames and the thick smoke that spread rapidly across the ward. At the time of the fire, six patients were admitted in the ICU and a total of 13–14 persons were present in the hospital.
The fire brigade reached the spot within minutes and managed to bring the blaze under control. Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey and IG Garhwal also arrived at the hospital to oversee rescue efforts. The patients were evacuated and shifted to Kailash Hospital, Coronation Hospital and Doon Hospital. Despite the swift response, one elderly woman, identified as 60-year-old Veerwati of Kanwali, Balliwala, was brought dead to Kailash Hospital.
Kailash Hospital Director Pawan Sharma said that the woman appeared to have died due to suffocation and burn injuries, though the exact cause would be confirmed after post-mortem. He added that 13 patients were received, four of them on ventilators and several with severe burns, along with three injured policemen.
The deceased woman’s son Sunny Pal said that he was informed by his brother about the fire and rushed to the hospital, only to learn that his mother had already been shifted to Kailash Hospital where she was declared dead. He stated that she had been admitted just two days earlier and alleged that she died due to suffocation while being evacuated amidst heavy smoke.
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said that prima facie the fire appears to have originated from the ICU air-conditioner, but the exact cause can only be established after investigation. He emphasised that the government has issued strict directions against negligence in the hospitals and audits are conducted regularly. He assured that this incident will be thoroughly investigated and accountability fixed.
Chief Fire Officer Abhinav Tyagi stated that the first priority in such incidents is to evacuate people safely, and the rescue operation was conducted accordingly. The fire was controlled within minutes of the team’s arrival.
The incident has raised serious questions about safety checks and preparedness in private hospitals. With one life lost, several patients injured and policemen hurt during rescue, the tragedy has underlined the urgent need for strict compliance with fire safety norms in healthcare facilities. Those injured included Rahul Kumar, Mukesh, Shambhu Das, Gauri, Daulat Singh, Baby alias Payal, Sangita Devi, Khan Bahadur, Nityanand and Nihal, while policemen Narendra Kumar, Brijmohan Rawat and Brijmohan Kanvasi also sustained injuries during the rescue.
