A major fire broke out at the teaching block of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Saturday, August 17 at around 5 pm.
A resident doctor believed it was the biggest fire incident that has occured in the history of the institute. Samples, medical reports and other instruments have reportedly been destroyed.
The fire that started at around 5 pm from the Microbiology department was first noticed by Rajesh Mahato, who works as a guard at the teaching block. At least 34 fire tenders were rushed to the spot as the blaze spread to five floors.
Delhi Fire Service Director, Vipin Kental on fire at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi: Fire is completely under control. Cooling operation is underway, they’ll continue for some more time, the staff will be here to monitor that. No casualty has been reported. pic.twitter.com/TFzvl80qQ2
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2019
What started with thick fumes soon turned into dense smoke that spread through the gastroenterology wing, causing panic and chaos.
Soon patients had to be evacuated out of the vicinity including those who were on life support.
The fire started on the second floor of the building and spread to the third and fourth floors. It flared up to the rear side of the fifth floor and work is underway to bring it under control. There was some temporary structure built at the rear side of the building and some generators were kept there, due to which our vehicles could not approach the rear side of the building to douse the fire.
In a statement, the Media and Protocol Division, AIIMS said:
The Delhi Fire Services, along with AIIMS fire division, have controlled the fire and are still on the job. There has been no loss or damage to life. As a precautionary measure, the patients admitted in the adjoining AB Wing have been shifted out to the other wings of the hospital temporarily.
Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is also admitted at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the cardio-neuro centre but has been housed in a different building in the complex.
People were active and took to Twitter to react to this terrifying incident at AIIMS.
Fire has broken out at 1st and 2nd floor ( AIIMS New Delhi ) .. 2 ward has been vacated 🙏🙁 pic.twitter.com/MwFV0MP3Fl
— Rebellious Psychiatrist (@DrRebellious) August 17, 2019
The fire in AIIMS building will be brought under control at the earliest.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 17, 2019
Fire Service trying it’s best to extinguish the fire.
I appeal to everyone to maintain calm and allow the Fire Services personnel to do their work.
दिल्ली #AIIMS में आग लगने की घटना दु:खद है लेकिन संतोष की बात है कि अस्पताल प्रशासन की सतर्कता से समय रहते आग पर काबू पा लिया गया। पूरे मामले को मैं खुद व्यक्तिगत तौर पर मॉनिटर कर रहा हूं। मरीजों को ऐतिहातन दूसरे वार्डों में शिफ्ट किया गया है। जानकारी के डायल करें 011-26593308 pic.twitter.com/dWn0u3ciWR
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) August 17, 2019
#AIIMSFire
— Suchi Soundlover (@suchiseetharam) August 17, 2019
Hospital statement:
– No loss or damage of life
– control room number : (011) 26593308 pic.twitter.com/gewowt8GFe
It’s 21:12 Fire is uncontrollable. It’s now at 5th floor.#AIIMS #aiimsfire @htTweets @IndianExpress @the_hindu pic.twitter.com/6x7mdGfjcc
— Dr Pawan Sinhmar (@pawan_sinhmar) August 17, 2019
Fire broke out in PC block near the emergency ward on the 2nd floor at AIIMS, Delhi. Brought under control with the help of 34 fire tenders. Patients being shifted to a safer place. No casualty reported. Salute to fire fighters. 🙏 #AIIMS pic.twitter.com/cJzYHZAXm8
— Shalini Kapoor (@criticshalini) August 17, 2019
Other information regarding the patients admitted in the AB Wing can be obtained from the Control Room 011-26593308.
