Lightning sparks fire in oxygen and electrical lines at Chuchura Imambara Hospital; Major disaster averted

A fire broke out on Monday evening in the female general ward of Imambara Hospital in Chuchura, Hooghly, following a lightning strike during heavy rain. The incident occurred on the hospital’s third floor when lightning struck with a loud noise, causing a fire in the oxygen pipeline and electrical wiring. This sudden fire led to panic among patients and their relatives present in the ward.

Hospital staff immediately evacuated all patients from the affected ward to ensure their safety. They used the hospital’s fire extinguishers to bring the fire under control quickly. The Hooghly Fire Department was informed, and a fire truck arrived at the hospital, but the fire was already contained by the time the firefighters reached the scene. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Devashish Biswas, Station Officer of the Hooghly Fire Station, confirmed that the fire was caused by lightning striking the hospital’s oxygen and electrical lines. The hospital’s emergency equipment successfully extinguished the fire before it could spread further. Hospital Superintendent Amitabh Mandal stated that the quick response of hospital staff prevented a major accident.

Following the incident, all patients admitted in the female general ward were shifted to other wards within the hospital. A technical team has been assigned to carry out repairs on the damaged oxygen and electrical lines. Safety checks are underway to restore full functionality and ensure no further risk to patients and staff.

A witness present during the event, Mahamaya Kundu, described the situation, stating, “After the lightning strike, there was a loud noise and suddenly a fire broke out. I immediately raised an alarm and asked to switch off the main power. The staff ran and extinguished the fire.” The incident ended without injuries, highlighting the importance of timely action in emergency situations.