A fire erupted in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday morning, causing widespread panic.
Hospital officials confirm that all 33 patients in the unit were safely evacuated with no casualties reported. Staff members quickly extinguished the blaze using fire extinguishers after it started in a ventilator support system, likely due to an electrical short circuit.
Swift Response Prevents Disaster
Some patients experienced breathing difficulties from the smoke, prompting the immediate closure of oxygen lines to halt any potential spread of the fire. The rapid actions of the hospital team ensured everyone’s safety.
Political Ramifications in Kerala
This incident comes amid ongoing election campaigns in Kerala, where opposition parties Congress and BJP highlight repeated lapses in the public health sector against the Left Democratic Front government. It may intensify debates on healthcare infrastructure safety.
Context of Recent Hospital Fires
India has seen several hospital fire tragedies recently. Last year, a short circuit in the UPS room at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital filled the adjacent casualty ward with smoke, resulting in four deaths. Officials maintained that the fire did not directly cause the fatalities.
