Massive fire erupts at Hospital in Gwalior, 190 patients rescued

A massive fire broke out in the Kamla Raja Hospital in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, during the early hours of Sunday, prompting the evacuation of over 190 patients, including 13 from the ICU. Authorities have confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.

According to officials, the fire started around 1 AM due to an air-conditioner malfunction in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the gynaecology department. The flames quickly spread, and thick smoke engulfed the premises, triggering panic among patients and staff. However, hospital guards and ward boys acted swiftly, breaking windows to evacuate patients and transferring them to a super-speciality hospital within the Gajra Raja Medical College campus.

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as patients and attendants scrambled to escape the smoke-filled wards. "The hospital was completely covered in smoke, and visibility was near zero. The staff immediately began shifting patients to safety. Thankfully, our patient is fine now," an attendant recounted.

Fire tenders from the Gwalior Municipal Corporation arrived promptly and managed to contain the blaze before it spread further. Authorities suspect that a short-circuit in the air-conditioning system caused the fire in the gynaecology department, though a detailed investigation has been ordered to determine the exact cause.

Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chouhan confirmed that all ICU and ward patients were safely evacuated and that an inquiry would be conducted to prevent future incidents. The hospital remains partially operational, with authorities ensuring adequate care for the shifted patients.

The incident has raised concerns about fire safety measures in hospitals, especially in critical care units. Officials are now reviewing electrical systems and emergency response protocols across government-run medical facilities in the region.