Fire breaks out at Davanagere district hospital after oxygen cylinder explodes

DAVANAGERE: A fire broke out at the district hospital in Chigateri on Tuesday, where thousands of patients get treatment daily. A nitrous oxide cylinder of the anesthesia machine in the operation theatre suddenly exploded, and the entire OT was engulfed in flames. The district hospital at Chitageri is a lifesaver for poor patients from three-four districts.

Due to the intensity of the explosion, high-tech medical equipment worth crores of rupees was burnt to ashes. The staff ran outside in fear for their lives, and a tense atmosphere prevailed across the hospital premises. Rooms were filled with thick smoke and fire in the district hospital, while patients and staff were standing outside in fear for their lives as fire brigade personnel doused the fire.

A nitrous oxide cylinder of the anesthesia machine installed in the hospital’s main operation theatre suddenly exploded. As soon as the sound of the explosion was heard, the entire hospital premises shook at once, and fire blazed fiercely. As the entire ward was engulfed in thick black smoke, patients and staff ran outside screaming in fear for their lives. The intensity of this sudden cylinder explosion was such that every single item in the operation theatre was burnt to ashes.

State-of-the-art medical equipment worth crores of rupees used for surgeries was completely destroyed. Not only the OT, but the fire also spread to the ICU and other special rooms around it, and walls and parts of the building developed cracks.

As soon as they got information, fire brigade personnel immediately rushed to the hospital and carried out fire-fighting operations. More than ten fire brigade personnel in two fire tenders worked to clear the thick smoke and completely extinguish the fire.

Before this, Group D employees, without caring for their own lives, moved other cylinders outside to prevent the fire from spreading to them and averted a major disaster. The staff also doused the fire using fire balls and fire extinguisher cylinders. They also sent out the patients and staff present there. Fortunately, no operation was under way in the operation theatre — if an operation had been going on, the chances of loss of life would have been high. The staff expressed their anxiety, saying they felt like they had been given a new life.

A horrific accident was narrowly averted at Davanagere District Hospital. But since the main operation theatre, which was a support for the district’s poor patients, has been completely damaged, there is a fear that surgeries may be halted. Locals appreciation has been expressed for the efforts of the Group D staff and fire brigade personnel who ensured that there was no loss of life.