43 hurt in hospital fire; doc, nurses jump from 3rd floor

Hyderabad,  Feb 2: For the second day in succession, the city witnessed another major fire. On Monday it was the Super Markert  in Habsiguda and on Tuesday it was the turn of Park Super Specialty  Hospital in Somajiguda to get engulfed in flames .Fire broke out in the 100-bedded hospital housed in a five-storied building and within minutes flames spread to all the floors. Panic-stricken patients and medical staff rushed out of the building from the ground and first floors, while those in the upper floors had no other go but to jump.

Forty-three persons were injured after fire broke out in the hospital.The injured were shifted to Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) and Yashoda Hospital. The injured  include patients, attendants, nurses and medical staff. The condition of six of the injured is stated to be critical.Most of those who jumped out of the building sustained injuries. Some of them suffered from suffocation, while others received burn injuries.All the eight patients in the Intensive Care Unit were brought out safely, according to DCP Stephen Ravindra, who reached the spot on hearing the news of the mishap.

Fire Service personnel battled with flames for two hours after fire broke out.Duty doctor Sheetal, nurses Usha and Pushpa who jumped from the third floor building after breaking the glass façade sustained serious injuries.According to witnesses, many patients were being wheeled out while others were being pulled out through the windows.''The building has no fire safety measures,” Director General of Fire Services, Aruna Bahuguna told newsmen.Health Minister Danam Nagender, Hyderabad  district  collector Naveen Mittal, City Police Commissioner A K Khan and DCP Stephen Ravindra were present at the spot to supervise the rescue operations.Meanwhile, the Government has ordered for a probe into the fire at Park Hospital.