Daijiworld Media Network - Gwalior

Gwalior, Mar 16: A massive fire erupted in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the labour ward at Kamala Raja Hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior district early Sunday, triggering panic among patients and staff.

No casualties have been reported so far.

The blaze, caused by an air conditioner compressor explosion, quickly filled the ward with thick smoke, leaving pregnant women gasping for breath. Amid the chaos, hospital staff broke windows to ventilate the area and ensure safe evacuation.

Authorities, including the District Collector and Superintendent of Police, rushed to the scene, and fire brigade teams worked tirelessly to contain the fire. All 16 women in the labour ward ICU, along with over 100 patients in nearby wards, were successfully rescued.

Preliminary investigations suggest an electrical short circuit near the ICU’s AC unit as the likely cause. “A detailed probe has been initiated,” police sources said.

This incident follows a similar fire at the hospital’s trauma centre on March 9, 2024, which claimed a patient's life due to another AC compressor explosion. The latest mishap raises serious concerns about hospital safety measures.