ESI Hospital Sealdah on fire
A fire broke out at Sealdah’s ESI Hospital early Friday morning, prompting the swift response of 10 fire engines. While no lives were lost, one patient remains in critical condition due to smoke inhalation.
It was an early Friday morning at Sealdah’s ESI Hospital, and while most of the city was still rubbing the sleep from their eyes, a rather unwelcome guest made its presence known—fire. At the crack of dawn, around 5 a.m., thick black smoke was seen billowing from the second floor of the hospital, causing quite the stir. The fire brigade was promptly notified, and in true heroic fashion, they arrived at the scene with ten fire engines, no less. By 7:40 a.m., the flames had been brought under control, leaving everyone breathing a sigh of relief, albeit through the acrid scent of smoke.
No sooner had the fire engines pulled up than the State Fire Minister, Sujit Bose, also arrived to take stock of the situation, no doubt donning his proverbial fireman’s hat to inspect the damage.
Now, for those wondering what on earth was going on inside the hospital at such an ungodly hour, well, there were 80 patients receiving treatment when the fire decided to make its dramatic entrance. Most of them, understandably, were fast asleep, blissfully unaware of the impending drama. Thankfully, hospital staff were quick on their feet, and patients were evacuated to safety, not just from the affected male surgery ward, but from the third floor too, just in case the flames fancied spreading further. Some patients were whisked off to the Maniktala ESI Hospital as an added precaution.
While no lives were lost, there was one patient who found themselves in a bit of a sticky wicket. The heavy smoke triggered a bout of severe breathlessness, leaving the poor soul in a critical condition. Fire Minister Bose did, however, point out that, as it was Puja season, many patients had been discharged early to celebrate with their families, which fortunately meant fewer people were at risk when the fire broke out. He also praised the fire brigade for their bravery, noting that they had worked fearlessly to prevent what could have been a much grimmer outcome.
As the morning unfolded, it became clear that while the fire didn’t claim any lives, the hospital’s infrastructure took quite the beating. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but let’s just say the hospital won’t be winning any ‘Building of the Year’ awards anytime soon. The cause of the fire remains a mystery, and the fire department is investigating to get to the bottom of it.
In the midst of all this chaos, the hospital authorities announced that the outpatient department would remain closed for the day. This, of course, led to many patients arriving from distant places, only to be greeted by locked doors and the smell of smoke, leaving them to turn tail and head back home. Meanwhile, anxious relatives of those still receiving treatment flocked to the hospital, many shedding tears of relief once they were assured their loved ones were safe. The fire department has since reassured the public that the situation is under control and that there’s no need for further alarm.
All in all, it seems the swift action of the fire brigade, hospital staff, and a bit of good fortune helped avoid what could have been a truly catastrophic incident. One can only hope the hospital takes this as a wake-up call and gets their fire safety measures up to snuff, before something like this happens again!
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