A fire broke out at Calcutta Medical college at around 7:58 AM today. The medical college which is situated in central Kolkata had smoke coming out of from one of its buildings. It is believed that the fire originated from the Pharmacy section of the Hospital. Ten fire engines are at the spot to combat the flames.
According to officials, around two fifty patients were evacuated to safety after the fire broke out. The fire department was alerted after relatives of the patients who usually wait in front of the pharmacy of the hospital spotted smoke coming out of the building at around 8 a.m.
West Bengal’s Disaster management authority officials are also present at the spot along with the fire brigade and the police. The probable cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed by the authorities. A senior fire brigade official speaking to IANS stated – “The fire began in the ground floor of the medical college at around 7.58 a.m. The reason behind the blaze is yet to be ascertained.”
Calcutta Medical college has several buildings inside its complex, the black smoke caused huge panic and hysteria among the patient’s relatives and people on the ground as well as the staff working there. The evacuation process was hasty and no proper caution was taken. Some even were evacuated on their bed sheets with their saline pouches still attached to their veins. Many patients were seen lying on the floor, which aided the concerns of the patient parties.
After the fire broke out in the Calcutta Medical College, the second oldest medical college in India, founded in 1835. Some of the patients evacuated were taken to other State-run hospitals and other medical institutions. This is the second fire that has brought the city to a halt.
A few days ago, a prominent market in Kolkata, Bagri market was burned down to ashes. Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s Mayor Sovan Chattopadhyay commented – “I have been told that patients have been evacuated, we are looking into the incident’. This is just another incident where the lack of civil safety in the city of Kolkata has caused great pain to the citizens of the city and the state.