As many as 65 patients undergoing treatment at the accident and emergency services block of the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital, in Salem, were shifted safely to other hospitals after fire broke out at the operation theatre on November 22.
Doctors and nurses noticed fire and thick smoke emanating from the operation theatre of the Trauma ICU and post-orthopaedic operative ward located at the first floor of the wing and raised alarm. All the patients were immediately shifted out of the ICU and the ward to safe locations by doctors, nurses and the hospital staff. Panic prevailed for a while on the premises as the building was engulfed with smoke. Fire and rescue services personnel brought the fire under control and the smoke was removed from the wards.
