Patna: A fire broke out in the Microbiology Department of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Monday afternoon, causing extensive damage to equipment, documents and other materials stored in the facility.
Officials said there were no reports of injuries or fatalities. Preliminary indications suggest the fire may have been caused by a short circuit amid prevailing high temperatures, though the exact cause is yet to be determined.
Fire brought under control after hour-long operation
Five fire tenders were deployed after the incident was reported to the fire control room at around 2.10 pm.
District Fire Commandant Ritesh Pandey said firefighting teams worked for nearly an hour before bringing the blaze under control. He added that the fire had been completely extinguished and a detailed investigation would be conducted.
Incident occurred during examination hours
According to information available, examinations were being conducted in two shifts in the department when the fire broke out.
The examinations were reportedly nearing completion and students and staff were preparing to leave when smoke began filling the building. Witnesses said flames soon became visible, prompting authorities to immediately disconnect the electricity supply.
Despite the precautionary measure, the fire spread through the department, damaging laboratory equipment, furniture and important records. The extent of the financial loss has not yet been officially assessed, though officials indicated that the damage could run into several lakh rupees.
Previous fire incidents at PMCH
The latest incident has renewed attention on fire safety arrangements at PMCH, where similar incidents have been reported in the past.
About two months ago, a fire was reported in the hospital’s Pathology Department and was brought under control before causing major damage. A separate fire incident had also occurred in the old building of the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department.
In previous cases, officials had also cited the possibility of short circuits as a contributing factor. Authorities are expected to examine the cause of the latest fire as part of the ongoing inquiry.
