Blaze guts OPD building at JVC hospital Srinagar

Srinagar, Nov 29: Srinagar: A massive blaze damaged the Out Patient Department (OPD) building of JVC hospital Srinagar, on Saturday morning, triggering panic among patients and attendants present inside the hospital.

Officials from the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) told Greater Kashmir that they received an emergency call at around 6:10 am reporting fire in the OPD block of the hospital. They said immediately after the alert, fire tenders from JVC fire station and additional units from the F&ES Headquarters were rushed to the spot to control the flames.

“The fire tenders were pressed into service without delay, and our teams worked promptly to prevent the fire from spreading to the main hospital building. The blaze engulfed major portions of the double-storey OPD structure, including the roof,” said an official.

Witnesses said flames and thick smoke rising from the building created chaos among attendants and patients “People ran out in panic, fearing that the fire might reach the wards. For a moment, everyone thought the entire hospital was in danger.” said a witness.

Official said the fire caused severe damage to equipment and infrastructure. “The roof portion was completely gutted and several equipment and records inside the OPD have been destroyed,” said an official. However, officials confirmed that the fire was contained before it could spread to other sections of the hospital. They said the cause of the fire is being ascertained. “The exact reason behind the incident is under investigation,” an official said.