A tragic fire at City Hospital on Trichy Road in Chennai claimed the lives of six people, including a child, on Thursday night. The victims, found unconscious in a lift, were rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to suffocation, according to police and fire department officials.
The blaze, which broke out late in the evening, led to the evacuation of approximately 30 patients from the private hospital. These patients were transferred to the district’s Government Hospital for further care, officials stated.
Dindigul District Collector MN Poongodi told ANI, “A fire broke out at a private hospital about two hours ago. The patients here have been rescued and admitted to nearby government and private hospitals.”
Cause of the Fire
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit. Footage aired on local TV channels showed smoke and flames engulfing parts of the hospital, with fire trucks on the scene working to bring the situation under control.
Suffocation Identified as Cause of Death
Fire and Rescue Services personnel discovered the victims in an elevator during their evacuation efforts. Medical officials later confirmed that suffocation was the cause of death.
Previous Fire Tragedy in Jhansi
This incident echoes a similar tragedy from November, where 11 newborns lost their lives in a fire at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. That fire, which ravaged the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), was later found to have been preventable, as hospital authorities had ignored safety recommendations outlined in a June 2024 safety audit.
The audit had revealed significant safety lapses, including exposed wiring, open junction boxes, and inadequate fire-prevention measures across multiple hospital departments.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities in Chennai are now conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire at City Hospital and whether safety protocols were adequately followed.
This latest tragedy has reignited concerns about fire safety in healthcare institutions, highlighting the urgent need for compliance with safety regulations to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
Sources By Agencies
