ICU patient dies at KMCH fire, 5 injured

KHULNA, May 20: An ICU patient dies another five sustained injuries while evacuation following a fire broke out on the third floor of Khulna Medical College Hospital on Wednesday morning.

The fire triggered panic among patients, attendants and hospital staff and leaving at least five people injured. The identity of the deceased could not informed media immediately. 

ICU In-Charge Dr Dilip Kumar said the patient died during transfer by relatives amid the emergency situation. However, he clarified that no patient died directly due to the fire incident.

 The fire erupted around 6 am in the hospital's emergency operation theatre (OT) complex, prompting frantic evacuation efforts as smoke spread through the building.

According to hospital sources, two nurses and a physician saved their lives by jumping from the third floor during the blaze. Several nurses also sustained injuries while being evacuated from the building.

Assistant Professor Dr. Dilip Kumar, who was in charge of the emergency OT, said the fire might have originated from a short circuit either in the post-operative room or an adjacent storeroom around 5:50 am.

"The fire first spread to the outdoor unit of an air-conditioner and later reached the oxygen supply unit. Flames near the oxygen outlet possibly caused an explosion, which intensified the blaze," he said.

He added that the patients admitted to the OT and ICU units were immediately shifted to safer locations after the fire broke out.